REAP Grant

Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Grant

In 2019, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for $118,750,000 for the Regional Early Action Planning Grant Program to Councils of Governments and other regional entities. The Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) received approximately $1,480,000 to distribute to local cities, including Ceres.  

On March 17, 2021, the StanCOG Policy Board approved Resolution 20-27 which provided the suballocation methodology of funding by percent of population. The City of Ceres’ initial REAP funding amount was $35,277.88. The City executed the first MOU with StanCOG on June 27, 2022.  Those funds were put towards the consultant work for the Housing Element update.  

On July 2024 a third REAP funding package was made available. Using the same method of apportionment adopted by the StanCOG Policy Board, Ceres received $47,846.03. These funds were again put toward the budget for completing the Housing Element Update.

In December 2024 HCD considered a final round of additional REAP funding.  In this round of funding, StanCOG allotted an additional $44,482.05 to the City of Ceres.  These funds again went toward the completion of the Housing Element.

In total, the City of Ceres received $127,605.96 in REAP grant money.  The totality of the grand funds went toward paying the City’s Housing Element consultant which cost the City $259,701.35.  The City’s Housing Element was adopted on March 24, 2025.  After minor edits to the document, the City received it’s Letter of Compliance from HCD on May 22, 205.

The City of Ceres is the third City in Stanislaus County to have an adopted and certified Housing Element!