Community Development Block Grant applications close Feb. 11

posted on: 2/8/2016

For over 25 years, the City of Dover has been a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement community and has used this program to support countless initiatives designed to assist those in greatest need throughout the community. The annual funding Dover receives through the CDBG program is designed to support a wide range of community development activities that revitalize neighborhoods, support economic development, and provide improved community facilities and services.

To assure the best use of these funds, the City of Dover developed a “Consolidated Plan” that serves as a road map for CDBG funding. The current Consolidated Plan was adopted in 2015 and aims to create a viable urban environment through the improvement of housing and employment opportunities for low- and very low-income people, and also through improving and expanding public facilities and services. Specific objectives are:

• To provide increased opportunities to residents of the City who require education, health, recreation, housing and related human services;
• To weatherize and improve the older housing stock of the City, especially for persons of low- and very low-income;
• To plan and construct public improvements in areas populated by or used predominately by low- and very low-income persons;
• To provide increased employment opportunities for low- and very low-income persons, with a focus on access to transportation;
• Removal of architectural barriers to allow increased handicapped accessibility.

Every year at this time the City seeks applications from organizations who request to use the funds to support endeavors that align with the objectives listed above. Once the application period has closed, the proposals are reviewed by staff and forwarded to the Planning Board for review. In addition to recommendations from staff, the Planning Board receives input from applicants and others who wish to comment on proposed funding requests. The Planning Board decision regarding funding allotments is based upon guidance from the Consolidated Plan.

Once the Planning Board completes its review, a recommendation is forwarded to the City Council. The City Council holds a public hearing and finalizes a funding strategy for the applications. The final decision becomes the basis of an Action Plan for the 2017 fiscal year. Once this Action Plan is reviewed and approved by HUD, funds will be released to City of Dover for eventual disbursement to the organizations who received project approval.

The current application period will close on Feb. 11, 2016, with applications tentatively scheduled to be brought before the Planning Board in March and then to the City Council in April.

To review the current Consolidated Plan, click here.

For more information about Dover's Community Development Block Grant program, click here or contact Dave Carpenter, Community Development Planner, at d.carpenter@dover.nh.gov or 603-516-6008.