(The latest in a series of posts on City government)
Gadfly began operation in September last year and was not attuned to the October awarding of CDBG and HOME grant money to City organizations then.
No lagging this year.
There is approx $1.5m to be awarded this year. No small amount.
The first step in the grant process will be tonight 6PM Town Hall at City Council’s Community Development Committee meeting (members Van Wirt, Reynolds, Colon). Committee decisions will then go to full Council.
Groups apply. The City proposes allocation of the grant money. Council decides.
Find this in the transmittal memo from the City to Council:
Attached please find the FY 2019 CDBG and HOME requests received by the City.
These recommendations will be presented to council at the October 28th Community
Development Committee Meeting. In addition to the quality of the application,
conformance with our Consolidated Plan is evaluated, past compliance history of the
grantee and the number of city residents impacted by the program are all factors
considered. . . . We have used an anticipated CDBG amount of approximately $1,200,000 and a HOME award of $350,000. As always, our public service awards are capped at 15%, or approximately $180,000.
[Gadfly is not sure about the HOME program but finds this info about CDBG on the web: “The Community Development Block Grant, one of the longest-running programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, funds local community development activities with the stated goal of providing affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development.”]
This is an exciting and nail-biting time for applicants and involves Council responsibility at the highest level. The money could mean life or death in some instances.
Here is the allocation of resources proposed by the City that Council will discuss tonight.
Take a look. Any comments on the recipients and the priorities before the discussion tonight?
Gadfly plans to attend and will report on doin’s tomorrow.