What is “West Street Sundays?” It features a Farmer’s Market where you can buy the freshest locally grown produce and much more. You can have brunch, listen to live music, have drinks, snacks and even take in a wonderful array of fresh produce.

The West Street Market is a Reno Redevelopment project that created new opportunities for small local businesses, local farmers and local programs as well as a number of local artisans and performers. The urban market has an eco-friendly theme that serves as a community gathering and the Market is still growing.

The Redevelopment project vastly improved the area restoring two dilapidated, vacant historic buildings transforming the block from an undesirable area into one where families, students, senior citizens and downtown residents can grab a bite, enjoy a cup of coffee glass or glass of wine, or sit outside and listen to live music or watch a performance.

The Market is open seven days a week and is located on West Street between First and Second Streets. For more information about the Market or upcoming events visit  www.RenoWestStreetMarket.com.

***Free validated parking is available at the Parking Gallery on First Street 7 days a week.

The CDBG Program provides annual direct grants to communities that can be used to expand affordable housing and economic opportunities, to revitalize neighborhoods, and/or to improve community facilities and services, principally for the benefit of low to moderate income individuals.

The City of Reno receives annual CDBG allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Sidewalk improvements in the Linden-Grove area, the Oliver-Montello Neighborhood Revitalization, numerous pedestrian ramps within our community, and the West Street Market are just some examples of beneficial projects that were funded with the assistance of the CDBG Program.

The CDBG Program was enacted and signed into law by President Gerald Ford, as the centerpiece of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

To celebrate the importance and necessity of the CDBG Program, Mayor Cashell proclaimed April 4 through April 10, 2010 as Reno Community Development Week.

For more information about Reno’s CDBG Program visit www.reno.gov, select “Government”, then “City Manager’s Office”, and “Community Resources” or www.reno.gov/Index.aspx?page=769.

Last Wednesday, the City Council approved a contract with Nevada Microenterprise Initiative (NMI), a private non-profit agency, to administer the Greater Reno Opportunities for Business (GROBusiness) Program. It is funded entirely by the City’s Community Development Block Grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The GROBusiness Program is offered to qualifying new or expanding businesses in the City of Reno. Additional services through NMI include counseling and guidance to assist with maintaining a viable business, technical assistance, ongoing training, networking, and oversight. For more information about the GROBusiness Program contact the Nevada Microenterprise Initiative at 775-324-1812.

 To learn more about programs and services available visit www.reno.gov, click on Newsroom, then Current Issues, and Recovery & Reinvestment or www.reno.gov/Index.aspx?page=2037.

The new head of the Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission told members of the Reno City Council a number of significant transportation projects are continuing to move forward including efforts to build a mass transit system along Virginia Street that could include street cars and eventually a light rail system. 

RTC Executive Director Lee Gibson said work continues with the area’s congressional delegation in Washington D.C. to secure as much federal funding as possible for the project.

 The Reno City Council has already approved a four phase concept to implement the plan as well as seven steps to move the project forward. 

The first phase of the project is underway with the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit in the downtown core.  The new RAPID buses began service in October of this year and Lee notes so far, the new buses have increased ridership by 10 % from downtown to the Meadowood Mall from a year ago.      

To learn more about this project go to the newsroom on the City’s website at www.cityofreno.com