M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Mayor and Town Council
From: Sue Ellen Loyzelle, Vice Mayor
Date: January 18, 2016
Re: Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Application
REQUESTT
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Town of Cutler Bay is eligible to submit a grant application to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for a Federal Fiscal Year 2016 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The Town may apply for up to $750,000 in the neighborhood revitalization, commercial revitalization and housing rehabilitation categories and up to $1.5 million in the economic development category. Construction activities funded through the CDBG Program must meet one of the following National Objectives:
1. Provide benefit to low- and moderate-income persons;
2. Prevent or eliminate slum or blight conditions; or
3. Meet a need of recent origin having a particular urgency.
Activities for which the Town is eligible to apply include drainage improvement, paving roads and sidewalks, building a community center or park, and rehabilitating low-income homes. In compliance with the CDBG Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), the Town Manager desires to host two (2) public involvement meetings to seek input from the general public about potential projects, and if feasible, submit a grant application on behalf of the Town for the identified project resulting from the public involvement meetings.
The first meeting is tentatively scheduled on Monday, January 30, 2017 (Attachment “A” - Draft Public Hearing(s) Notice). Based on feedback from this meeting, the Town will draft a proposal for one of the above referenced eligible activities. Residents will have a second opportunity to provide feedback on the drafted grant application during a second public involvement meeting tentatively scheduled for Thursday, February 9, 2017. The application is due to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity on or before Thursday, February 16, 2017.
History of the Florida Small Cities CDBG Program
In 1983, the Florida Legislature enacted the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program Act, Florida Statutes, Chapter 290, to accept and administer the Community Development Block Grant Program created by Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. The purpose of the Florida Statutes, Chapter 290, is to assist local governments in carrying out effective community development activities to arrest and reverse community decline and restore community vitality. The Florida Legislature designated the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity as the administering agency for the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program. This competitive grant program awards funds to eligible units of local government in small urban and rural areas.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Town Council approve the attached Resolution allowing the Town Manager to comply with the requirements of the Notice of Funding Availability and if feasible, submit a Small Cities Community Develop Grant Application to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.