Why aren't Christiansburg residents benefitting from Federal Entitlement Funds? Because the town passes this grant money over to another group and doesn't bother to participate.
See Blacksburg's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Commercial Facade Program announcement:
"Recognizing the need to continue the positive changes in our Downtown Commercial Zoning District, the Town of Blacksburg's Housing and Neighborhood Services Office is pleased to offer the Commercial Facade Program. This program extends up to $25,000 in a forgivable loan to business and building owners who operate in the Downtown Commercial Zoning District to improve the appearance of the exteriors of their buildings. Please see the Commercial Facade Program Guidelines (Word Document) for more information. To receive an application, please call 540-951-4336 or email housing@blacksburg.gov."
Relative to US Census figures for the town's population and income figures, Christiansburg -- just like Blacksburg and Radford -- was designated as an Entitlement Community, automatically receiving CDBG funding once numbers hit "metropolitan" status.
Unlike Blacksburg, which also provides administrative leadership and manages these funds for all participating NRV localities, Christiansburg seemingly disdains these funds as unneeded and unnecessary.
Don't Christiansburg residents deserve some benefit from these federal funds? Downtown Christiansburg can hardly be described as thriving and could use some help with revitalization beyond paved streets. Even the town's regional mall area with several national retailers now closing, or the increased demand for subsidized housing in light of higher unemployment and a cycle of unprecedented foreclosures might qualify now. This topic was discussed with a couple members of town council during 2008, but no rational reason for nonparticipation was forthcoming.
Think about it. Why don't Christiansburg town leaders have projects in the regional partnership queue to receive funding it is already entitled to from these pooled resources?