City closes out $250,000 CDBG grant for Reality Kitchen pilot

The Roseburg City Council held a public hearing May 13 to consider closing out a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant awarded to support Reality Kitchen’s pilot program in Douglas County.

City staff read the grant closeout notice from the Oregon Business Development Department and noted the project’s estimated direct benefit to at least 12 low- or moderate-income people. Jim Evangelista of Reality Kitchen summarized the project’s work to convert an established in-person culinary curriculum into an online platform for rural learners and said the program has on-boarded four participants from Douglas County in its initial sessions.

Teresa/Theresa Hager, executive director of CCD Business Development Corporation, thanked the city for partnering on the subrecipient relationship and described how CDBG funds are typically used for planning and smaller capital projects; she cautioned that long-term outcomes may not be visible for several years. Staff recommended council move to direct staff to complete the required closeout documentation for the grant.

A motion to direct staff to officially close out the Reality Kitchen CDBG grant was made, seconded and adopted by voice vote. Staff confirmed the $250,000 represented the full grant award and that funds had been allocated to the activities described in the closeout report.