About 15 people representing 13 nonprofit agencies attended a workshop last week required by the city before a nonprofit can apply for federal grant money through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) makes funds available each year for the city’s CDBG program. These funds are used primarily to benefit low and/or moderate-income persons, to aid in the prevention or elimination of blight or slums, and to meet a community development need of a particular urgency. All of the funds must directly benefit Simi Valley residents and be matched through non-federal means.

Last year the city gave out nearly $750,000 in CDBG funds to 22 local nonprofit organizations.

Carolyn Duncan, the city’s CDBG coordinator, said they expect to receive about $800,000 from HUD this year.

Lisa Chadwick-Peterson, a grant writer for Interface Children Family Services, attended the workshop. She didn’t yet know how much the organization would request in funds. The 30-year-old nonprofit serves about 74,000 Ventura County residents annually through dozens of programs, such as child abuse prevention and counseling for at-risk youth.

“We serve the most needy and the least served members of the community,” she said. “Every resource that is available for low-income and moderate-income families is a valuable resource. These are very tough times.”

The next CDBG workshop is scheduled for 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tues., Nov. 8 in the Community Room at city hall. Call (805) 5836836 to register.