February 6, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City Spending Plan For Low to Moderate Income Resident Programs Available for Review
DECATUR - The draft document detailing how the City is proposing to spend an estimated $2 million on programs for low-to-moderate income residents in the coming year is now available for public review and comment.
The Annual Action Plan can be examined on the city’s web site, in the city’s department of Economic and Urban Development in the Decatur Civic Center, at the Decatur Public Library and in the Decatur Housing Authority’s Administration office. The plan defines which new programs will be created or existing programs expanded to meet community needs in the coming year and, as such, community input is critical to the creation of an effective plan.
In past years the city has received a yearly allocation of about $2 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership (HOME) funding which has been used to fund programs for residents meeting certain income guidelines. This year’s proposed plan includes several additions or changes which are based on input from the seven Decatur City Council-led neighborhood meetings in Fall 2008 and a pair of action plan hearings held in October 2008.
As a result of that input the city is proposing increasing the amount of funding for owner occupied residence rehab programs – including programs targeting roof replacement or repair, emergency repairs and energy conservation — and is also looking to allocate funds for landlord training.
Plans are to make the programs available citywide this year; in the past funds have been directed to a targeted area. Some of the programs that the city is looking to fund include:
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In addition, the city is proposing the allocation of about $70,000 for an employee training program utilizing CDBG funds carried over from a previous year.
A plan public hearing will be held at noon Tuesday, Feb. 17 in the Decatur City Council Chamber of the Decatur Civic Center. The FY 2009/2010 Annual Plan will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in March 2009 and it is expected that the new round of funding will begin May 1.
Please contact Vickie Buckingham at 424-2777 or vbuckingham@decaturil.gov for more information. Draft Plan location addresses are attached.
ANNUAL ACTION PLAN DRAFT LOCATIONS
Decatur Public Library
130 N. Franklin St.
Decatur, IL 62523
Decatur Civic Center — Department of Economic and Urban Development
1 Gary K. Anderson Plaza
Decatur, Il 62523
Decatur Housing Authority
1808 E. Locust
Decatur, IL 62521