Community Development Block Grant
The
Community Development Block Grant program is an important funding tool for
implementing community plans.
Municipalities can regularly apply for funding for qualifying activities
and projects.
The Mercer County Regional Planning Commission is available to help
Mercer County communities apply for funding from this program.
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
program is federally funded through the United States Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD). The program awards grants in order to carry out a
wide range of community development activities directed toward revitalizing
neighborhoods, economic development, and providing improved community
facilities and services. The CDBG program is an important tool in helping
local governments tackle the most serious challenges facing their communities.
CDBG funds are to be used for activities that
benefit low- and moderate-income persons, carry out activities which aid in
the prevention or elimination of slums and blight, or address existing
conditions that pose a serious and immediate threat to the welfare of the
community where other financial resources are not available to meet these
needs.
MCRPC serves its members community development
needs via grant writing and project administration/management expertise. MCRPC
has helped numerous communities apply for and receive competitive CDBG funding
through applications to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic
Development (DCED). DCED administers the CDBG program for the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. Interested individuals and groups are encouraged to contact
their local municipality to begin the competitive application process.
Economic Development
Keystone Opportunity Zone
(KOZ)
Keystone Opportunity Zones are defined-parcel-
specific areas with greatly reduced or no tax burden for property owners,
residents and businesses. KOZ have been designated by local communities and
approved by the state - they are, in fact, a partnership between each community
and region among state and local taxing bodies, school districts, economic
development agencies and community-based organizations.
Grant Programs
There are a number of grant programs available
in a wide variety of community development categories in addition to the CDBG
program.
Access MCRPC's Grants Homepage to learn about
a variety of programs available to your community.
Mercer County Affordable
Housing Fund
PA Act 137
- The act allows the governing body
of each county to increase the fees charged for recording deeds and mortgages
(by no more than 100%), said new revenue to be used for affordable housing
efforts in the county.
Affordable housing effort
– A program or project which increases the availability of quality
housing, sales or rental, to county residents with income below the county
median.
The program is optional.
Well over half of Pennsylvania’s counties have opted to create an
affordable housing fund.
Mercer County
Fund
- Mercer County created an Act 137
affordable housing fund by ordinance on June 28, 2001.
The fund was created in response to the following findings:
-
Mercer County has affordable
housing needs: new homes
& rental housing for families & seniors, specialized housing,
shelters, and housing rehab.
-
Municipalities and
organizations involved in housing expressed interest in the trust fund and
beneficial projects that could result.
Mercer County’s base recording
fee is $30. From each fee payment
for recording of a deed or mortgage, $11.50 is allocated for the affordable
housing fund. Annual revenues
could average an estimated $150,000.
Mercer County Regional Planning
Commission is designated to administer the fund using a workable program that
includes:
-
Annual applications for
financial assistance from the trust fund,
-
Objective review &
ranking by the Mercer County Affordable Housing Fund Board, then
-
Project selection by the
County Commissioners.
-
Click here to access Mercer
County's Affordable Housing Fund Homepage.
Mercer
County Regional Planning Commission
2491 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148
mail@mcrpc.com www.mcrpc.com
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