160 likes | 335 Views
Alachua County Community Development Block Grant Application for Funding. 1 st Public Hearing June 28, 2011. Purpose. Two public hearings are required for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application.
E N D
Alachua County Community DevelopmentBlock GrantApplication for Funding 1st Public Hearing June 28, 2011
Purpose • Two public hearings are required for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application. • This first public hearing will allow citizens’ and commissioners’ input, outline CDBG grant categories, and provide a staff recommendation on a CDBG grant category. • The second public hearing, in September, will allow for public comments before the CDBG grant application is submitted.
Background The CDBG Program is: • A federal grant program that, through the State of Florida, Alachua County is eligible to apply for; • A primary source of funding for housing and community development; • Used for a variety of community development activities such as residential and nonresidential property rehabilitation, homeownership assistance, and economic development.
CDBG Objectives National objectives: • Undertake activities that principally benefit low and moderate income persons; • Prevent or eliminate slum or blight; • Address urgent needs of recent origin for which there is no other funding.
Small Cities CDBG Program Florida’s Small Cities CDBG Program: • Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); • Administered by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA); • Available to cities with less than 50,000 residents and counties with less than 200,000 residents.
Grant Categories There are four primary categories under which Alachua County may apply for funding: • Housing Rehabilitation; • Neighborhood Revitalization; • Commercial Revitalization; • Economic Development.
Housing Rehabilitation Objective is to improve housing conditions and expand housing opportunities for very low, low, and moderate income persons by: • Rehabilitation of substandard houses; • Demolition of dilapidated housing; • Relocation to replacement housing; • Installation of wells/septic tanks (where potable water or sewer service is not available); • Mitigation of future natural disaster hazards.
Neighborhood Revitalization Objective is to revitalize declining neighborhoods and improve infrastructure by addressing problems that influence neighborhood vitality by: • Construction or improvement of infrastructure (roads, drainage, and water/sewer facilities); • Construction/rehabilitation of neighborhood facilities that provide community services; • Construction/rehabilitation of facilities for persons with disabilities and removal of architectural barriers; • Mitigation of natural disaster hazards.
Commercial Revitalization Objective is to revitalize commercial areas that are showing signs of decline by: • Repair/rehabilitation of building facades; • Construction/reconstruction of streets, utilities, public spaces, parking facilities, etc.; • Acquisitions of substandard or blighted properties to carry out a redevelopment plan.
Economic Development Objectives are to provide long-term jobs, promote private capital investment, and expand local tax bases by: • Providing job training and placement; • Expanding infrastructure to attract or retain businesses; • Acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of commercial/industrial buildings and structures; • Purchase of capitalized machinery and equipment.
Previous CDBG Funded Projects Alachua County has successfully applied for funding and implemented projects under the Housing Rehabilitation category.
Grant Application • The state does not target Small Cities CDBG funding to particular areas. • The application process favors local governments that have undertaken fair housing and equal opportunity activities. • Grants are awarded based on competitively-scored applications.
Grant Ceiling • The LMI population determines the amount of money that can be received. • Alachua County is eligible to apply for $750,000 in funding.
Application Process • Select a grant category that meets community needs after hearing citizens’ and commissioners comments during 1st public hearing; • Create grant application; • Finalize and submit application after public review and comment during 2nd public hearing;
Recommendation • Identifying projects for Neighborhood or Commercial Revitalization or Economic Development Categories requires long-term planning, thorough data collection, and availability of time and resources; • The County has had success and has experience in applying for and implementing Housing Rehabilitation grants; • There is a need for projects within the Housing Rehabilitation category in the community; • Staff recommends that the County apply for a CDBG grant to fund Housing Rehabilitation projects.
Next Steps • Staff will prepare grant application as directed; • A 2nd public hearing for citizens’ and commissioners’ review and comment will be held August 9, 2011; • County will submit grant application to DCA before the August 15, 2011deadline.