Maria Torres, owner of MRM Construction Services, was able to construct new headquarters in south Phoenix that included 8,000 square feet of office and laboratory space, a far cry from the 8-by-30-foot trailer that served as her previous headquarters.

Labor's Community Service Agency, a nonprofit agency addressing the needs of the homeless community, has provided transitional and affordable housing to prevent families from becoming homeless by reducing housing costs.

Both are among award recipients recognized this week by the city of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) in honor of national Community Development Week.

Each year, NSD handles approximately $17.5 million in Community Development Block Grant funds. For every federal dollar received, CDBG recipients invest $4 to participate in the program, amounting to $70 million in community improvements and services.

The department observed the week by presenting awards at the City Council meeting to individuals and agencies that used CDBG funds in an exemplary manner.

The awards and recipients are:

The CDBG program has been cut 20 percent, or $4 million, over the past six years. Under a budget proposal submitted by President George Bush, funding for 2008-09 fiscal would be cut by 18 percent.

If approved, the Phoenix program would face an additional loss of $3.1 million.