The Housing Trust Fund Board has heard the preliminary survey results from their online survey about how to spend federal grant money.  The city receives Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) every year and is in the process of putting a five-year plan in place on how to spend it.

BBC Research and Consulting in Denver, Colorado is analyzing and compiling the results. Rachel Thompson of BBC  was at the Housing Trust Fund Board meeting on Wednesday night to give the board an idea of people want to see the money spent on.

She said she was very impressed with the number of responses from Frisco residents. There were more than 500 responses.  She said her company has conducted similar surveys  in much bigger places, like San Diego County, and gotten fewer responses.

The survey covered multiple topics from why people live in Frisco to what  barriers are restricting the city.

According to the survey results residents live in Frisco because of the schools, low crime, affordable for-sale homes and a relatively new community. The community assets that Frisco has are; quality schools, proximity to major transportation arteries, little crime, good mix of commercial/ retail and newness.

The survey also concluded that some of the concerns of Frisco residents are transportation (roads, seniors, trails and public transportation), street lighting, shelter for day laborers, affordable day care, lower property taxes, low income housing and economic development.

 Some of the barriers restricting the city are the economic downturn which includes decreasing property values, foreclosures and unemployment.

The survey will continue to be on the city Web site until March 30 (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/THPGKX3) to help the city collect additional results. The results will then be prioritized during the April meetings of the board and a five year consolidation plan will be created.

In 2009 there were $275,000 received in CDBG grants. That money was used on home rehabilitation, housing acquisition for Habitat for Humanity, the first-time home buyer program, Meal on Wheels for the seniors and homeless prevention funds were given to Samaritan Inn and Frisco Family Services.

The city is waiting to see how much money will be received in 2010 but it is expected to be more. All the money will be used towards the same kinds of programs that it was used towards in 2009. The next meeting of the Housing Trust Fund Board is April 14 at 6:30 p.m.

To see the preliminary survey results http://www.ci.frisco.tx.us/projectsPrograms/Documents/Presentation_Frisco%20(03-10-10)_PSL.pdf