Centre County is eligible to apply to the PA Dept. of Community and Economic Development for approximately $290,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds for the FFY 2013 Program.
Centre County is eligible to apply to the PA Dept. of Community and Economic Development for approximately $290,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds for the FFY 2013 Program. Of that amount, approximately $238,000 is available to fund eligible projects in Centre County.
Proposed project activities must meet at least one of three national objectives: 1.) benefit low- and moderate-income persons; 2.) prevention or elimination of slums or blight; 3.) alleviation of immediate threats to the health and safety of the community. Centre County Commissioners are required to and will commit not less than 70% of the total funds to projects which principally benefit low-and moderate-income persons. It is the desire of the Commissioners to receive public comment on possible projects or activities including the environmental impact, the previous use of CDBG funds, and/or the County’s Three Year Community Development Plan. Interested applicants should contact the Centre County Planning and Community Development Office no later than May 31, 2013.
Eligible CDBG projects may include broad areas of housing, infrastructure, economic development and public services. More specific activities include the provision, extension or improvement of public works, including water, sewer or storm water projects. Funding may also be used for the acquisition of property that is blighted, deteriorated, or inappropriately developed; the preservation or restoration of resources or scenic areas; the development or improvement of recreation facilities; or the guidance of urban development. Limited funds are available, as well, for public services, administration and planning costs. A complete list of eligible activities can be found in Section 105(s) of the Housing & Community Development Act (P.L. 93-383) as amended.
As an applicant, the County must maintain and update its Three-(3) Year Plan that outlines future CDBG needs. The County must also prioritize needs, set objectives, and identify projected uses of funds to meet those objectives. The County, in its planning process, is aware of several projects which will be considered for possible FFY 2013 CDBG funding. These include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Water Main Replacement in Snow Shoe Twp., Village of Clarence - $149,531
2. Water Main Replacement in Haines Twp., Village of Woodward - $85,0003. Philipsburg Borough Streetscape Improvements - $68,274
4. Water System and Streetscape upgrades in Port Matilda Borough - $295,140 5 Water Meters for Miles Twp. village of Madisonburg - $33,000
6. Sewer system construction for the village of Potters Mills, Potter Twp. - $800,000
A public hearing will be held on May 22, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. in Room 146 of the Willowbank Building, 420 Holmes Street, Bellefonte, PA. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the CDBG program and receive public comment on these proposed activities and/or proposals for new activities. The hearing will also include discussion of the potential environmental impact of the proposed projects. The public is also invited to provide input into the Three-Year Community Development Plan as well as any comments on this year’s program or the performance of any other year’s CDBG Program.
As a result of this hearing, proposed projects will be reviewed and prioritized by the Commissioners. Elements considered in their review will include; multi-municipal benefit, local user fees, number of residents benefiting, consistency with the County Comprehensive Plan, Health & Safety Improvement, number of Low to Moderate Income Residents.
The Hearing location is accessible. Those needing special accommodations should call (814) 355-6791 twenty-four (24) hours in advance.
The Centre County Board of Commissioners is expected to take final action on the County’s 2013 CDBG Application in late June or Mid July of 2013. A second notice will be made announcing the specific projects to be funded, the amount of the funding and the date, time and place of a second public hearing.
Robert Jacobs, DirectorPlanning & Community Development Office