Title
Human Services Department requesting conceptual approval to submit a minimum of two Planning and Technical Assistance Grant applications to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for grants of up to $70,000 each.
FUNDING: Federal CDBG Grant Funds.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: There is no cost associated with the application process beyond the staff time associated with preparation of the application. County match requirements for these applications will be designated by the NOFAs and are typically 5% of the grant amount, approximately $1,750, for each application. It would be proposed to utilize the Department's currently budgeted County General Fund Housing Element Implementation dollars for staff time to meet the cash match.
Reason for Recommendation:
It is expected that the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) will release Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs) for the Fiscal Year 2009-10 Community Development Block Grant Planning and Technical Assistance (PTA) Allocation to provide grants of up to $35,000 per activity under the General and Economic Development allocations. Eligible activities under the PTA General allocation would include project specific planning activities and non-project specific studies including, but not limited to, a housing conditions survey, housing element update or an income survey. Eligible activities under the PTA Economic Development allocation would include project specific planning activities for preparation of one or more Over-The-Counter funding applications or applications for Enterprise Zone designation. Jurisdictions may submit two applications, totaling $70,000, under each NOFA.
At a minimum, it is anticipated that one $35,000 application would be submitted under the General Allocation to conduct a housing conditions survey, and one $35,000 application would be submitted under the Economic Development Allocation to fund the preparation of a local Economic Development Plan for the Georgetown Divide community. The submittal of applications for any additional studies or projects will be brought back to the Board for conceptual approval prior to application development.
On May 18, 2009, the Board adopted a 12-month interdepartmental economic development action plan with a goal of "creating prosperous and sustainable communities while maintaining our quality of life". The plan included an action to "explore and apply for community economic development grants, State and Federal governmental assistance sources" for developing needed economic development tools in support of the goal.
Existing staff would be utilized to administer the activities under these grants. The level of environmental review required under the grant activities would be determined and completed as a part of the grant set up conditions as required by the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and would be overseen by County staff. Following Board conceptual approval to proceed, application(s) would be developed in accordance with NOFAs issued, and a Public Hearing would be scheduled for Board consideration of each application and receipt of any public comments, at which time adoption of a Resolution would authorize submittal of the subject application(s). HCD will accept CDBG PTA applications on a continual basis until all available grant funds are exhausted.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
Human Services to develop Community Development Block Grant Planning and Technical Assistance application(s) and all relevant documents for Board of Supervisors consideration and approval to submit said application to the State Department of Housing and Community Development.
Contact: Janet Walker-Conroy, 642-7272
Concurrences: N/A