AGENDA DATE: 5/17/2023
TITLE:
Title
2023 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application Approval
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Public hearing for approval to submit an application for the 2023 CDBG Competitive Grant program.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Rosenberg, Bohdan, Dimock, Pethia
PRESENTER (S): Stacy Pethia, Housing Policy Manager
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a federally-funded grant program administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Since 1982, the DHCD has provided funding to eligible units of local government (in non-entitlement communities only) for projects that address critical community needs, including housing, infrastructure, and economic development. Albemarle County has received numerous grants in previous years to support housing and community improvement initiatives. The CDBG application process requires that two local public hearings be conducted. The first public hearing was held on May 3, 2022, at which time information was provided on eligible activities that may be funded by a CDBG grant, the amount of funding estimated to be available, past activities undertaken with CDBG funds, and the process for applying for funding. The purpose of this public hearing is to provide information on the proposed project application and to accept public comment on the application.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality Government Operations - Ensure County government’s capacity to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION: As part of the ongoing redevelopment of the Southwood Mobile Home Park, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville (Habitat) is requesting the County submit a CDBG application to support new infrastructure installation in Village 3, the first village to be constructed in Phase 2 of the project. The total amount of grant funding to be requested is $1.075 million, which includes $1 million in project funding, and $75,000 to cover the costs of grant administration services. If awarded, grant funds will provide water and sanitary sewer connections to serve the new, permanent homes of Southwood residents, the majority of whom are low- to moderate-income persons. The project will be shovel-ready by the end of Summer/beginning of Fall 2023, and the water/sewer services will become public infrastructure at the completion of construction.
BUDGET IMPACT: If awarded, the County would receive $75,000 to administer this grant. The balance of grant funds would support the infrastructure development. If awarded, the Board would be asked to appropriate the grant funding received. CDBG projects include various levels of funding to offset administrative costs by awarding such funds based on performance. Staff would administer the grant using a performance-based budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment A) approving the County’s submission of the CDBG application for Village 3 of the Southwood Redevelopment Project Phase 2 and authorizing the County Executive to execute the application package, as well as any supporting or related contracts or documents required to obtain or accept this grant, once such package, contracts, and/or documents have been approved as to form and substance by the County Attorney, and to take any further action required for this application.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Resolution