The City of Hood River’s proposed housing project on just over seven acres on 780 Rand Road received a major funding boost as Oregon Housing and Community Services approved $15.1 million in Local Innovation Fast Track, or LIFT, program funding for the development.  It was the second time project partners Community Development Partners and Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation had sought the LIFT funds that would go towards 129 units of rental housing for households earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income.  City Planning Director Dustin Nilsen says the next steps will be for CDP and CCHC to complete site designs and apply for land use approval in the lead up to a sale agreement with the City.  He says it is anticipated that within the next couple months the application materials will be complete and site review will begin.  CDP and CCHC plan to apply to OHCS for 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits and tax-exempt bonds next year to complete the project’s financing.