The Historic Westside in Las Vegas is set to receive a significant financial infusion aimed at boosting affordable housing and community facilities, as Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen have announced a $50 million federal grant. According to KTNV, this grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will focus on revitalizing the Marble Manor Apartments, with about 400 new affordable housing units being created.
Plans for the sizable funding also include job training services, child care accessibility, and the creation of community and recreation centers; the money is to help establish a community garden and a new grocery store, developments which aim to cater to a growing need. Tashika Lawson, who is involved in launching a mailbox business in the area, expressed enthusiasm about the news in a statement obtained by KTNV, saying, "This is the historic heart of the Black community in Las Vegas so I want to know what's going on in our community." Her words underscore the local anticipation and positive sentiment surrounding the grant.
Senator Cortez Masto emphasized housing affordability as a top issue in a press release, "Lowering housing costs is among Nevadans' top concerns," a sentiment reflected in their ongoing legislative efforts. The grant, as reported by KTNV, is expected to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many Nevada families by making their neighborhoods safer and their housing more affordable.
In a show of commitment to sustainable community development, a statement by SNRHA Executive Director Lewis Jordan, "the residents of Marble Manor will greatly benefit" from this "comprehensive redevelopment" was shared by Senator Rosen's office. The grant award to SNRHA is one part of the federal funding that Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto have sought, with Rosen recently introducing the Housing Oversight and Mitigating Exploitation Act to address housing affordability and to tackle potential price gouging in the industry.
These federal investments align with Cortez Masto's pursuit of increased funds for affordable housing initiatives nationwide including a proposed boost to the Housing Oversight and Mitigating Exploitation Investment Partnership Program, a part of her broader agenda to enhance living conditions for Nevadans. The recent focus on the Historic Westside symbolizes a wider commitment by Nevada's representatives in ensuring that growth and development proceed without leaving behind the need for accessible and reasonably priced housing options.