El Paso County Community Development Block Grant Program

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El Paso County Community Development Block Grant
Program

• An Overview

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What is CDBG?

• The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
  Program is a federal grant program established by
  the federal Housing and Community Development Act
  of 1974.
• Administered by the U. S. Department of Housing
  and Urban Development (HUD).

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Goals of the Program

• 1. Provide Decent, Affordable Housing
• 2. Establish Maintain Suitable Living
  Environments
• 3. Expand Economic Opportunities
• In addition to the federal CDBG program
  goals HUD requires that all projects funded
  through the program address one of the three
  national objectives
• 1. Benefit low- to moderate-income residents
• 2. Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums
  or blight
• 3. Meet other community needs having a particular
  urgency

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What Can Be Funded?

• Examples of Eligible Activities
• and Projects
• Creation and retention of affordable housing
• Infrastructure improvements
• Public facilities and services
• Job creation and retention
• Homeless facilities and services
• Facilities and services for those with special
  needs
• 70 of CDBG funds must be used for
• activities that benefit low- and moderate-
• income persons.

• Examples of Ineligible
• Activities and Projects
• Political activities
• Facilities and services for general government
  use
• Certain income payments
• Any project or program funded
• with these federal dollars must
• meet specific eligibility criteria set
• by HUD, address a local priority
• need as identified in the Countys
• Consolidated Plan, and meet a
• national objective of the program.

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Funding Categories

• Housing Acquisition or rehabilitation of rental
  or for sale units. Rental or homeownership
  assistance, etc.
• Public Facilities Senior centers, parks and
  recreation facilities, libraries, health care
  facilities, homeless facilities, etc.
• Public Services (15 Limitation) Transportation
  services, youth services, substance abuse
  services, counseling, meal programs, etc.
• Infrastructure Street improvements, sidewalks,
  drainage improvements, tree planting, etc.
• Economic Development Commercial/Industrial
  acquisition and rehabilitation, small business
  assistance, job training and assistance to
  non-profits, etc.

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Eligible Geographic Areas

• El Paso County will receive CDBG funds as an
  Urban
• County. The Urban County includes
• Calhan
• Fountain
• Green Mountain Falls
• Palmer Lake
• Ramah
• Unincorporated El Paso County
• The CDBG funds must either be used in these
• jurisdictions or benefit residents of these
  areas.

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2009 Proposed Funding

• The El Paso County first year (2009-2010)
• proposed CDBG funding is 994,235
• Formulation Example
• Total Funding
  994,235
• -20 Administration Cap
  198,847
• Estimated Remaining Program Funds 795,388
• Estimated Amount to Benefit Low- to
  Moderate-Income Residents (70) 556,772
• Estimated Remaining Funds Not Subject to the Low-
  to Moderate- Income Benefit 238,616
• Maximum Amount Allowable for Public Services
  (15) 119,308

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The CDBG Process

• Development of the Consolidated Plan and Annual
  Action Plan
• What is a Consolidated Plan/Annual Action Plan?
• Why is the Plan Needed?
• Is the Plan Binding?
• Citizen Participation Process
• Citizen Participation Plan and Public Hearings
• Draft of the Plan and Public Comment
• Submission of the Plan to HUD
• Start of Program Year - April 2009

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The CDBG Process

• Application Process
• CDBG funds can be awarded to local governments
  and non-profit organizations (sub-recipients),
  but not private individuals.
• Will be a competitive process requiring written
  application and a formal selection process.
• Community Development Advisory Board
• The advisory board (CDAB) will make
  recommendations to the BoCC on issues pertaining
  to the CDBG program, including funding
  allocations.
• The board will consist of representatives from
  each of the participating jurisdictions and each
  Commissioner District.
• Monitoring, Auditing and Performance Review

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The Planning Process
HUD ? El Paso County ?
? Subrecipients or Beneficiaries Contract
ors ? (Low- to
Moderate-Income
Residents)
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CDBG Timeline

• December 31st- Draft of Consolidated Plan/Annual
  Action published for comment
• Mid January- Public hearing/public comment
  session
• January 30th- End of public comment period
• February- BoCC to approve Plan/Submit to
  HUD/Formal application process begins with
  supplemental workshops
• Early March- All applications due to the County
• Mid March- Applications are reviewed and ranked
  by County staff and the Community Development
  Advisory Board
• Late March- Public Hearing/Recommendations to
  BoCC/Approval of applications
• April and beyond- Applicants notified of awards
  and CDBG projects, programs and activities begin
• End Of Program Year- Annual Performance Review/
  Public hearing

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For Additional Information

• Tiffany Colvert, Community Development Specialist
• 719-520-6476 ? tiffanycolvert_at_elpasoco.com
• El Paso County Webpage ? www.elpasoco.com Click
  on Economic Development, then the Community
  Development Block Grant Program link
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  www.hud.gov/offices/cpd
• Income Limits www.huduser.org/datasets/il.html

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Public Comment

• Each Person who signed up to speak will be called
  and given two to three minutes to comment on the
  needs of the community.
• Please be respectful of the presenters and
  audience members.
• Anyone who did not sign up to speak will still
  have the opportunity to vote on priorities
  following this segment.

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Setting Priorities

• Each person will receive three stickers.
• Place your stickers under the categories that you
  consider the top three highest priorities.
• The numbers will be tallied, ranked and
  incorporated into the Consolidated Plan.

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• Thank you for your input and for being part of El
  Paso Countys Community Development Block Grant
  Program.