West Hartford’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program

* Two public hearings on March 11, 2010 regarding the Town's Five-Year Consolidated Plan

The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), administered by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides federal grant funding to state and local governments.  The program provides these annual grants on a formula basis to entitled cities and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing:

• decent housing
• a suitable living environment
• expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.

West Hartford is defined by HUD as a CDBG “entitlement” community.  As such, based on the size and the age of its housing stock, West Hartford receives a formula-based grant to carry out a wide range of community development activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, economic development, and providing improved community facilities and services.  The table below indicates the amounts of these grants for the past ten years.

As an Entitlement community, West Hartford develops its own programs and funding priorities. HUD requires that grantees give maximum feasible priority to activities which benefit low- and moderate-income persons.   Grantees may also carry out activities which aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight. Additionally, grantees may fund activities when the grantee certifies that the activities meet other community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community where other financial resources are not available to meet such needs. CDBG funds may not be used for activities which do not meet these broad national objectives.

On June 5, 2009 West Hartford submitted to HUD a substantial amendment to its 2005 to 2009 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and to its 2008 to 2009 Annual Action Plan. This amendment outlined West Hartford’s planned use for the additional $294,161.00 in CDBG-R funding. Click here to view the CDBG-R Substantial Amendment American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

CDBG Eligible Activities

CDBG funds may be used for activities which include, but are not limited to:

• acquisition of real property;
• relocation and demolition;
• rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures;
• construction of public facilities and improvements, such as water and sewer facilities, streets, neighborhood centers, and the conversion of school buildings for eligible purposes;
• public services, within certain limits;
• activities relating to energy conservation and renewable energy resources; and
• provision of assistance to profit-motivated businesses to carry out economic development and job creation/retention activities.

Activities Ineligible for CDBG Funding

Generally, the following types of activities are ineligible:

• acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of buildings for the general conduct of government;
• political activities;
• certain income payments; and
• construction of new housing by units of general local government.

HUD Administrative Requirements

To receive its annual CDBG entitlement grant, a grantee must develop and submit to HUD its Five-Year Consolidated Plan; a jurisdiction's comprehensive planning document and application for CDBG funding.   A Five-Year Consolidated Plan must identify the jurisdiction’s goals for housing programs, community development activities and economic development activities. Click here to view West Hartford's 2005 Consolidated Plan.

The goals will serve as the criteria against which HUD will evaluate a jurisdiction's Plan and its performance under the Plan. Also, the Consolidated Plan must include several required certifications, including that not less than 70% of the CDBG funds received, over a one, two or three year period specified by the grantee, will be used for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons, and that the grantee will affirmatively further fair housing. Click here to view West Hartford’s 2005 to 2009 Housing and Community Development Strategic Plan Measurable Goals.

Citizen Participation

A grantee must develop and follow a detailed plan which provides for, and encourages, citizen participation and which emphasizes participation by persons of low- or moderate-income, particularly residents of predominantly low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, slum or blighted areas, and areas in which the grantee proposes to use CDBG funds. The plan must:

• provide citizens with reasonable and timely access to local meetings, information, and records related to the grantee's proposed and actual use of funds;
• provide for public hearings to obtain citizen views and to respond to proposals and questions at all stages of the community development program, including at least the development of needs, the review of proposed activities, and review of program performance;
• provide for timely written answers to written complaints and grievances;
• and identify how the needs of non-English speaking residents will be met in the case of public hearings where a significant number of non-English speaking residents can be reasonably expected to participate.

Town of West Hartford has scheduled two public hearings
on its Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)

The Town of West Hartford anticipates approximately $1,083,518.00 in CDBG funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is planning to appropriate these funds as part of its FY 2010-2011 budget.  When allocating these funds West Hartford must comply with HUD regulations that require that CDBG-funded activities provide a benefit principally to low and moderate income persons.

The Town is also in the process of preparing, for submittal and approval to HUD, a Five-Year Consolidated Plan for Housing & Community Development.  On March 11, 2010, the Town’s Dept. of Human and Leisure Services will hold two public hearings on these matters: 

1. from 5:00 – 6:00 PM at the Faxon Branch Library, 1073 New Britain Ave.
2. from 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM, Elmwood Comm. Center, 1106 New Britain Ave. 

Additional Town budget hearings (as yet, unscheduled), including the CDBG budget, will be held by the WH Town Council in late-March to early-April.  Interested parties can learn more about West Hartford’s CDBG program(s) and make public comment on the Town’s use of CDBG funds and its community development needs.  Those needing special language or disability-related accommodations, or who need additional information, or who wish to submit written comments can contact: Edward Sanady, Room 306, West Hartford Town Hall, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT, 06107; 860-561-7565. 

For more information: If you are an interested citizen, contact your West Hartford’s Department of Human and Leisure Services; 860-561-7565.

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