INVERNESS — City Manager Frank DiGiovanni said he welcomes the county as a partner in the city’s endeavor to expand its community redevelopment area boundaries, but stressed that Inverness will move forward in the best interest of its citizens.
“We’re going to take steps with or without the county’s support to help this city,” he said at Tuesday’s city council meeting. “This is about people, hope and opportunity.”
DiGiovanni cited the city’s track record in downtown improvements as a positive for economic development. He said the state has used Inverness as a model in obtaining community development block grant (CDBG) funding.
Funded by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, CDBG money is used primarily to improve conditions in low-income areas of the city and includes enhancement projects or the renovation or demolition of identified blighted areas.
DiGiovanni said Tuesday the intent is to take in a wider swath of blighted areas around the city.