The City of Palm Desert has announced the acquisition of an $8 million grant from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). The funds will be allocated towards building infrastructure to support housing.
According to a press release by the City of Palm Desert, the grant will specifically facilitate a project aimed at expanding the city’s utility capacity. This expansion is intended to mitigate damage from future severe flooding events. The city confirmed that this project would directly impact existing and future housing developments along the I-10 corridor, an area recently affected by floods.
"Palm Desert has a long history of investing in its infrastructure to prepare for natural disasters," said Todd Hileman, Palm Desert City Manager, in the press release. "With the recent impacts by Tropical Storm Hilary, this investment will play a crucial role in further enhancing Palm Desert's ability to withstand stormwater and enabling the City to better protect current and future residents."
The city received this grant through SCAG’s Regional Utilities Supporting Housing Pilot Program (RUSH), as per another press release by the City of Palm Desert. RUSH supports investments in utility infrastructure planning and capital improvements. The infrastructure project in Palm Desert will aid a 3,386-unit development that has already been approved and a 1,663-unit development currently under review.
"We congratulate this project for helping to address Southern California’s housing crisis and are gratified that the RUSH program allows SCAG to fill a critical need by helping local jurisdictions overcome barriers to housing production," Ajise, SCAG Executive Director, was quoted as saying in the press release.
As stated on the SCAG website, over $192 million has been awarded through RUSH to various projects across Southern California within the past year. Other beneficiaries in Riverside County include a downtown sewer area study for the City of Desert Hot Springs ($500,000), an infrastructure assessment for Riverside County's Cabazon community ($997,500), and a stormwater drainage project for the Soboba Luiseño Indian Tribe ($6.1 million).