Mercer County Regional Planning Commission, Hermitage, Pennsylvania

 

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Public Hearing and Workshop
Wednesday, November 1, 2006 - 1:30PM, MCRPC office


October 4, 2006

TO: All municipalities in Mercer County classified non-entitlement in the PA CDBG Program, interested parties

FROM: Matthew R. Stewart, Planner; Carmen L. Reichard, Assistant Director—Administration

SUBJECT: Availability of CDBG Funds - Notice of Public Hearing & Workshop

Mercer County will be allocated an estimated $325,000 under the FY 2007 PA Community Development Block Grant Program. Funds will be available for projects benefiting non-entitlement municipalities (all except Sharon, Hermitage, Farrell, Grove City, Greenville, Sharpsville and Pine).

Project proposals must be submitted by all municipalities or agencies who desire FY 2007 CDBG funding from the County. Proposal requirements are attached. Proposals must be received by the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission no later than January 5, 2007 at 4:00PM.

Proposals may also contain a statement of funding needs for FY 2008 and FY 2009. These will be taken into consideration in preparing the County's Three-Year Community Development Plan.

CDBG projects must meet one of three national objectives: 1) provide principal benefit to low-moderate income persons; 2) eliminate slums and blight; or 3) serve an urgent local need. A list of eligible project activities is attached.

In order to document principal benefit to low-moderate income persons, municipalities will likely have to perform an income survey of families in the project service area. Income surveys must be performed under the direction of the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission.

A Public Hearing and workshop will be held Wednesday, November 1, 2006, 1:30PM at the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission office (see address below) to take comments on the use of FY 2007 CDBG funds and discuss eligible projects, proposal requirements, income surveys, and project selection criteria. All interested municipalities and agencies should attend.


Mercer County CDBG Program

Fiscal Year 2007

Project Proposals

Proposals must be type-written or computer-printed (not hand-written). All proposals must contain the information specified below, presented in the same order as outlined below, and numbered accordingly. The proposal itself or a cover letter must be signed by the chief official.

Minimum Content

  • Name of municipality/agency, mail address, phone #, name of contact person and phone #.

  • Problem/need – Describe the problem or need to be addressed in enough detail to convey its seriousness and magnitude. Quantify the problem with data/statistics.

  • Project description – Describe the proposed activities and include physical dimensions for work to be completed (length, size, area, etc.). Describe how completely the project addresses the problem or need. Provide any third-party support for the project. Indicate the proposed schedule for project completion.

  • Project location & service area – Indicate the location of the proposed activities. Describe the area to be served by the project. Include a map showing both.

  • Project benefit – Indicate the number of persons, households, businesses, etc., to be served. Indicate the number and percentage of low-moderate income persons to be served.

  • Community support – Describe community support for the proposed activities, especially among residents to be affected by the project. Describe efforts made to inform the public and obtain input about the project.

  • Permits/approvals needed – List any permits needed from governmental or private agencies to complete the project. Tell if rights-of-way, easements, or other property interests must be obtained.

  • User fee information – If the project involves user fees (such as water/sewer systems or public services), describe the existing user fee. Explain why CDBG funds are needed and why the project cannot be completed solely with user fee increases, other local funds, or borrowing.

  • Estimated cost – Provide total project cost, amount of CDBG funds requested, and source of other funds (if any) being used for the project. Indicate the source of the cost estimate.

  • Attach a statement from a registered engineer or architect that the project is feasible, the cost estimate is accurate, and the project has been evaluated against other alternatives and found to be the most appropriate solution to the problem. Contact Mercer County Regional Planning Commission for additional direction if you believe this item is not appropriate.


Mercer County CDBG Program

Fiscal Year 2007

Eligible and Ineligible Project Activities

The following activities are generally eligible or ineligible according to federal CDBG program regulations. Some conditions may apply to certain activities. For more information on activities or possible conditions, contact the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission.

Project activities must meet one of three national objectives: 1. provide principal benefit to low-moderate income persons; 2. eliminate slums and blight; or 3. serve an urgent local need (serious & immediate threat to health or welfare, no other financial resources available).

Eligible Activities

  • Acquisition of property

  • Public works, community facilities

  • Code enforcement

  • Clearance, demolition, removal, and rehabilitation of buildings

  • Removal of architectural barriers for handicapped persons

  • Displacement & relocation costs

  • Disposition of property

  • Provision of certain public services

  • Payment of non-federal shares of certain federal grant projects

  • Payment of completing an urban renewal project under Title I of the Housing Act of 1949

  • Planning activities

  • Administration costs

  • Assistance to eligible activities carried out by public or private non-profit entities

  • Assistance to neighborhood-based non-profit organizations

  • Historic preservation

  • Economic development assistance to private for-profit entities

  • Housing rehabilitation or development under Section 17 of the U. S. Housing Act of 1937

  • Interim assistance necessary to alleviate emergency conditions in certain public facilities & services

Ineligible Activities

  • Improvements to buildings used predominantly for the general conduct of government

  • General government expenses

  • Political activities

  • Purchase of equipment except for certain emergency equipment

  • Purchase of construction equipment

  • Purchase of furnishings and personal property

  • Operating and maintenance expenses

  • New housing construction (unless done by a CBDO)

  • Income payments

  • Improvements to church-owned property

  • Costs involving conflict of interest


Mercer County CDBG Program

Fiscal Year 2007

Project Evaluation and Selection

The Mercer County Board of Commissioners will select projects for county CDBG funding based on the evaluation criteria and selection process outlined below.

Evaluation Criteria

  • Eligibility and compliance with CDBG requirements – Project activities must be eligible & meet all CDBG requirements, particularly benefit to 51% low-moderate income persons.

  • Comparative need and benefit – Projects with greater needs will receive more favorable review. Projects that provide as complete as possible solution to problems or needs will receive more favorable review.

  • Leverage of other funds – Projects that utilize other funds (federal, state, local, private) and public/private joint efforts to more completely address the problem or need will receive more favorable review.

  • Community benefit – Projects that advance the community livability strategies and meet the objectives of the Mercer County Comprehensive Plan will receive more favorable review.

  • Regional involvement – Projects that encourage regional/multi-municipal cooperation in addressing the problem or need will receive more favorable review.

Tentative Selection Process

  • October 4, 2006 Notice of funding availability mailed

  • November 1, 2006 Public hearing #1 and workshop for interested applicants

  • January 5, 2007 Deadline for submission of project proposals to Mercer County Regional Planning Commission (MCRPC)

  • January 23, 2007 Review and ranking of project proposals by MCRPC. Recommendation submitted to Mercer County Commissioners

  • February 1, 2007* Public hearing #2

  • February 1, 2007* Approval action (selection of projects) by Mercer County Commissioners

  • February 26, 2007* Deadline for submission of county CDBG application to PA Department of Community and Economic Development

*These dates are not yet confirmed. Additional notice will be provided at a later date.


Mercer County Regional Planning Commission
2491 Highland Road, Hermitage, PA 16148
mail@mcrpc.com    www.mcrpc.com

 

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