More grants reward visioning process

Applications for the second round of grants to help revitalize the unincorporated East Kern County communities of Mojave, Boron, Rosamond and Old Town Tehachapi are available now and will be awarded in November.

A total of $250,000 in grant money will be disbursed this year for façade improvements, signs, painting, landscaping, awnings, fencing, windows and more.

With a growing sense of ownership and pride, residents of the those communities have worked with the Kern County Department of Planning and Community Development and 2nd District Supervisor Zack Scrivner's office since 2011, defining visions and goals for the future of their business and industrial sectors. Old Town Tehachapi, which is in unincorporated Kern County, started the visioning process later than the other communities and its plan is nearing completion. Old Town Tehachapi is eligible to apply for the 2014 grants.

In 2013, the county awarded all 40 grants that the communities requested. Boron received 13 grants for a total of $85,345.73. Mojave received 17 grants for a total of $147,512.92. Rosamond received 10 grants for a total of $58,152.79.

The Kern County Supervisors has set aside hundreds of thousands of dollars annually (for a maximum of $1.5 million over the course of 10 years) from the gusher of taxes flowing from renewable energy projects based in the county, most of them in East Kern where they directly affect the nearby communities.

The county grant program is called Renewable Energy Neighborhood Enhancement Wind Business Investment Zone, or RENEWBIZ.

Applications and instructions for the second cycle of grants from these funds became available Aug. 15, 2014. Completed application packets must be received at the Planning and community Development office by 4:30 p.m., Sept., 30, 2014.

The visioning process has given residents the opportunity to take stock of their home towns and engage in concrete planning to help them thrive.

The community of Mojave is now the site of 60 innovative flight development and advanced aerospace design companies. Residents want the town to catch up to its future.

"Mojave is currently at a crossroads in terms of its development as a community," says the Mojave Revitalization Vision Plan. "Over the last few decades, the project area has experienced some neglect and economic growth has stagnated. The community is eager to build on its heritage as a transportation hub and hospitality center and to continue to grow its reputation as a center for high tech industry and innovation. With the right path and a clear direction, Mojave is ready to thrive again."

The Boron Revitalization Vision Plan looks its past and future directly in the eye.

"With the life span of the [borax] mine coming to a close in about to 30 to 50 years, the town of Boron is well positioned to consider its future and how it wants to grow and be a sustainable community beyond the life of the mine. Over the past couple of decades, the community has experienced some neglect, and economic growth has stagnated. Basic community needs, such as a gas station, a pharmacy and adoctor are lacking. The community is eager to build on its heritage as a mining town while diversifying its economy. Boron is ready to renew its image and flourish once again."

The Rosamond plan (below) shows the project area boundary and locations of commercial mixed-use (burgundy), offices and retail buildings (purple and salmon), eating and drinking establishments (pink), tourism facilities (light pink), multi-family and single family residential structures (orange and pale yellow), institutions (blue), parkland open space (green) and public transportation routes (dashed line). Charts courtesy of Kern County Office of Planning and Community Development.