El Paso County will qualify this year for a federal grant program for the first time in the program’s 35-hear history and hopes to receive $1 million for neighborhood projects.During the past 15 years, the county has received $2.5 million in Community Development Block Grant money through the state, which required matching funds.This year, the county’s population and other demographics mean it could have access to the money without a match, said the county’s economic development manager DeAnne McCann.To qualify, the county’s population needed to be 200,000, excluding cities who qualify for the grant program, such as Colorado Springs.”We will be able to develop programs different than what the state will allow,” McCann said, because the county will apply directly to the federal government without going through the state’s requirements.”It’s a great opportunity for the county,” she said.McCann said the money, available later this year, would be spent on areas with low to moderate incomes.The Department of Housing and Urban Development grant program is designed to fund projects that will revitalize neighborhoods, provide economic development and improved community facilities and services.That means money could be spent on street lights, curbs and gutters, home delivery of meals to seniors, pedestrian ramps, home repairs or a number of other projects, she said.To help decide what projects will be funded, an advisory board is being formed with one representative from each of the five commissioner districts.Applications, due Feb. 27, can be found at www.elpasoco.com at the “volunteer boards” link.Send applications to Board of County Commissioners, Attn: Frances St. Germain, 27 E. Vermijo Ave., Colorado Springs, CO  80903-2208.Submissions may also be faxed to: 719-520-6397 or emailed to: webmaster@elpasoco.com.  For information, 719-520-6436.