For the second year in a row, Simi Valley's minor street rehabilitation program was the big winner when the City Council this week handed out about $1.07 million in community grants.

The street program, which makes small repairs, was awarded $653,010 in Community Development Block Grant money. The city distributed the rest of the money among 21 nonprofit service organizations and city agencies.

Of the 13 nonprofits vying for $107,950 available in the Public Service category, the Samaritan Center was awarded the most — $22,600.

"It's the largest amount we've ever gotten," said Betty Eskey, director for the center, which helps the homeless and needy with clothes, shelter and services.

The bulk, $15,000, will be used to pay a case manager, who will work up to six hours a day with clients. Eskey said the Samaritan Center has helped 40 clients get back on their feet and into housing this year.

The City Council approved the distribution at Monday night's council meeting after adjusting a committee's recommendation, since Habitat for Humanity was not eligible to hire a construction manager with CDBG funds.

The council redistributed the $30,000 to other nonprofits, revising the amounts.

The Boys & Girls Club received $68,000; ARC Ventura County, based in Thousand Oaks, about $38,000 for a parking lot rehabilitation; and the Simi Valley Historical Society, $20,000 to restore one of the city's oldest businesses, the Banaga Barber Shop. Also, the city's home

rehabilitation program administration received $42,676.

The city's grant allocation plan will be reviewed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for final approval.

HUD guidelines limit the amount of funds eligible for each of the three groups: Public service nonprofits are allowed 15 percent of the entitlement, or about $108,000; 20 percent for planning and administration, or about $144,000; and the majority, more than $820,000 — 65 percent plus unspent funds from the previous years — went to housing and community development, including street repairs.

The Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee is made up of community members.

This year the committee recommended and the council gave grants to all that applied, but few received the full amount requested.

Various community agencies presented their cases for funding to the City Council over the past several meetings.

Ventura County FOOD Share went before the council Monday asking for money to make up for declining food donations and to increase funding for after-school service, "Snack Attack."

"The quality and quantity of donations is not what it used to be," said Kristy Pollard, a grants manager with the nonprofit.

Pollard said FOOD Share is losing donations to secondary markets like the 99 Cents Store.

FOOD Share was awarded $14,958 out of the $19,944 it requested.

Other allocations to the nonprofit groups included: Long-term Care Services, ombudsman, $14,025; Senior Concerns, $13,716; Council on Aging and Lifeline services, $7,480; RAIN Ventura County, $1,508; and Loving Heart Hospice Foundation, $1,442.