Alachua County Community Development

Block GrantApplication for Funding

2nd Public Hearing

August 9, 2011

Purpose

• Two public hearings are required for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application.

• This second public hearing will: • allow citizens’ and commissioners’ comment on the

final application;• approve the grant application, as amended; and• provide direction to staff to finalize and submit the

$750,000 CDBG Housing Rehabilitation grant application.

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 unincorporated 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.

Previous CDBG Funded Projects

Alachua County has successfully applied for funding and implemented projects under the Housing Rehabilitation category.

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.

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.

Additional points awarded for matching funds. SHIP match of $100,000 provides additional 20 points.

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

• Hold public hearing for citizen and Board comment on

Final CDBG Housing Rehabilitation grant application;

• Approve CDBG grant application, as amended;

• Authorize the Chair to sign the grant application and

related enabling documents;

• Direct staff to finalize and submit the CDBG Housing

Rehabilitation grant application to DCA.

Next Steps

• Staff will finalize grant application as directed;

• County will submit grant application to DCA before the August 15, 2011 deadline.