Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Public Hearing and Workshop
Wednesday, November 1, 2006 - 1:30PM, MCRPC
office
October 4, 2006
TO: All municipalities in
Mercer County classified non-entitlement in the PA CDBG Program, interested
parties
FROM: Matthew R. Stewart, Planner; Carmen L. Reichard, Assistant
Director—Administration
SUBJECT: Availability of CDBG Funds - Notice of Public Hearing &
Workshop
Mercer County will be allocated
an estimated $325,000 under the FY 2007 PA Community Development Block Grant
Program. Funds will be available for projects benefiting non-entitlement
municipalities (all except Sharon, Hermitage, Farrell, Grove City, Greenville,
Sharpsville and Pine).
Project proposals must be
submitted by all municipalities or agencies who desire FY 2007 CDBG funding
from the County. Proposal requirements
are attached. Proposals must be
received by the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission no later than
January 5, 2007 at 4:00PM.
Proposals may also contain a
statement of funding needs for FY 2008 and FY 2009. These will be taken into
consideration in preparing the County's Three-Year Community Development Plan.
CDBG projects must meet one of
three national objectives: 1) provide principal benefit to low-moderate income
persons; 2) eliminate slums and blight; or 3) serve an urgent local need. A
list of eligible project activities is attached.
In order to document principal
benefit to low-moderate income persons, municipalities will likely have to
perform an income survey of families in the project service area. Income
surveys must be performed under the direction of the Mercer County Regional
Planning Commission.
A Public Hearing and workshop
will be held Wednesday, November 1, 2006, 1:30PM at the Mercer County Regional
Planning Commission office (see
address below) to take comments on the use of FY 2007 CDBG funds and discuss
eligible projects, proposal requirements, income surveys, and project
selection criteria. All interested municipalities and agencies should
attend.
|
Mercer
County CDBG Program |
Fiscal Year
2007 |
Project Proposals
Proposals must be type-written or
computer-printed (not hand-written). All proposals must contain the
information specified below, presented in the same order as outlined below,
and numbered accordingly. The proposal itself or a cover letter must be signed
by the chief official.
Minimum Content
,
mail address, phone #, name of contact person and phone #.
Problem/need
– Describe the problem or need to be addressed in enough detail to convey
its seriousness and magnitude. Quantify the problem with data/statistics.
Project description
– Describe the proposed activities and include physical dimensions for
work to be completed (length, size, area, etc.). Describe how completely the
project addresses the problem or need. Provide any third-party support for
the project. Indicate the proposed schedule for project completion.
Project location & service
area
– Indicate the location of
the proposed activities. Describe the area to be served by the project.
Include a map showing both.
Project benefit
– Indicate the number of persons, households, businesses, etc., to be
served. Indicate the number and percentage of low-moderate income persons to
be served.
Community support
– Describe community support for the proposed activities, especially among
residents to be affected by the project. Describe efforts made to inform the
public and obtain input about the project.
Permits/approvals needed
– List any permits needed from governmental or private agencies to
complete the project. Tell if rights-of-way, easements, or other property
interests must be obtained.
User fee information
– If the project involves user fees (such as water/sewer systems or public
services), describe the existing user fee. Explain why CDBG funds are needed
and why the project cannot be completed solely with user fee increases,
other local funds, or borrowing.
Estimated cost
– Provide total project cost, amount of CDBG funds requested, and source
of other funds (if any) being used for the project. Indicate the source of
the cost estimate.
Attach a statement from a
registered engineer or architect
that the project is feasible, the cost estimate is accurate, and the project
has been evaluated against other alternatives and found to be the most
appropriate solution to the problem. Contact Mercer County Regional Planning
Commission for additional direction if you believe this item is not
appropriate.
|
Mercer
County CDBG Program |
Fiscal Year
2007 |
Eligible and Ineligible Project
Activities
The following activities are
generally eligible or ineligible according to federal CDBG program
regulations. Some conditions may apply to certain activities. For more
information on activities or possible conditions, contact the Mercer County
Regional Planning Commission.
Project activities must meet one
of three national objectives: 1. provide principal benefit to low-moderate
income persons; 2. eliminate slums and blight; or 3. serve an urgent local
need (serious & immediate threat to health or welfare, no other financial
resources available).
Eligible Activities
-
Acquisition of property
-
Public works, community
facilities
-
Code enforcement
-
Clearance, demolition,
removal, and rehabilitation of buildings
-
Removal of architectural
barriers for handicapped persons
-
Displacement & relocation
costs
-
Disposition of property
-
Provision of certain public
services
-
Payment of non-federal shares
of certain federal grant projects
-
Payment of completing an
urban renewal project under Title I of the Housing Act of 1949
-
Planning activities
-
Administration costs
-
Assistance to eligible
activities carried out by public or private non-profit entities
-
Assistance to
neighborhood-based non-profit organizations
-
Historic preservation
-
Economic development
assistance to private for-profit entities
-
Housing rehabilitation or
development under Section 17 of the U. S. Housing Act of 1937
-
Interim assistance necessary
to alleviate emergency conditions in certain public facilities &
services
Ineligible Activities
-
Improvements to buildings
used predominantly for the general conduct of government
-
General government expenses
-
Political activities
-
Purchase of equipment
except for certain emergency equipment
-
Purchase of construction
equipment
-
Purchase of furnishings and
personal property
-
Operating and maintenance
expenses
-
New housing construction
(unless done by a CBDO)
-
Income payments
-
Improvements to
church-owned property
-
Costs involving conflict of
interest
|
Mercer
County CDBG Program |
Fiscal Year
2007 |
Project Evaluation and Selection
The Mercer County Board of
Commissioners will select projects for county CDBG funding based on the
evaluation criteria and selection process outlined below.
Evaluation Criteria
Tentative Selection Process
-
October 4, 2006 Notice of
funding availability mailed
-
November 1, 2006 Public
hearing #1 and workshop for interested applicants
-
January 5, 2007 Deadline for
submission of project proposals to Mercer County Regional Planning
Commission (MCRPC)
-
January 23, 2007 Review and
ranking of project proposals by MCRPC. Recommendation submitted to Mercer
County Commissioners
-
February 1, 2007* Public
hearing #2
-
February 1, 2007* Approval
action (selection of projects) by Mercer County Commissioners
-
February 26, 2007* Deadline
for submission of county CDBG application to PA Department of Community
and Economic Development
*These dates are not yet
confirmed. Additional notice will be provided at a later date.
Mercer
County Regional Planning Commission
2491 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148
mail@mcrpc.com www.mcrpc.com
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