TIFTON — The City of Tifton is taking steps towards reform in housing and gang activity with the aid of funding from a pair of grants.

Members of the city council moved to accept a Community Development Block Grant and the Georgia Gang Activity Prosecution Grant, two programs that will respectively aid in creating affordable housing for city residents and monitor gang activity in Tifton, during their Oct. 21 meeting.

Through the block grant, the city is expected to receive $790,945 in funds, which will be implemented in the revitalization of the South Tifton Redevelopment Area around the streets of South College Avenue and South College Circle.

The project will see the clearing of a dilapidated building in this area, followed by the restoration of eleven homes, which is expected to benefit up to twenty low-to-moderate income residents.

Funding from the Gang Activity Prosecution grant, totaling $12,000, will pay the renewal fee for the intelligence program Formulytics, an analysis software used by the city police department to monitor gang activity in the city.

The city previously applied for this grant last year, requesting $60,000 in order to purchase the software.