PUBLIC NOTICE
DRAFT SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE 2008-2009 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN UNDER THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT- RECOVERY FUNDS (CDBG-R)
The City of Northampton receives Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding each year as an entitlement grantee. The CDBG program is administered by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which allows funds to be spent on a wide range of activities intended to create suitable living environments, provide affordable housing, and expand economic opportunities, so long as these activities primarily benefit low- moderate income residents of a grantee's jurisdiction. In accordance with HUD regulations, every year the City submits an Annual Action Plan that details the types of programs and activities to be undertaken that year.
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The Act has clear purposes- to stimulate the economy through measures that modernize buildings and infrastructure, improve energy efficiency, and expand educational opportunities and access to health care. ARRA will provide a total of $201,513 in a one-time allocation of CDBG-R funds to the City of Northampton. HUD requires that the City prepare and submit a Substantial Amendment to its 2008-2009 CDBG Action Plan that will describe how the City will administer these funds. The following pages provide a detailed description of the activities to be undertaken by the City of Northampton using CDBG-R funds, and how these activities meet the purposes outlined in ARRA.
The City of Northampton's Community Development section of the Office of Planning and Development will hold the following public hearing in order to obtain public comments on the use of CDBG-R funds:
PUBLIC HEARING: CDBG-R Activity Review and Comment
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:30 PM
LOCATION: City Hall Room 18 (2nd Floor), 210 Main Street
Individuals, groups or agencies unable to attend the public hearings may submit written comments to Nathaniel W. Best, Community Development Planner/CDBG Administrator, 210 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060 or electronically to nbest@northamptonma.gov.
(Esta enmienda tambien esta disponsible en Espanol. Si usted desea una copia, por favor de comincarse con Nathaniel Best atra vez de nbest@northamptonma.gov) CDBG-R Activities Narrative
James House Community Learning Center: $181,362
The City of Northampton is in the process of renovating the James House, a municipally owned building formerly occupied by the Hampshire County Juvenile Court, for conversion into the Community Learning Center. The Learning Center will provide for ABE/ESOL classes, family literacy, early childhood programming, college transition courses, job and skills training, educational testing and a variety of support services to be co-located under one roof in a central location in downtown Northampton accessible by public transportation. These services are presently offered by several different nonprofit organizations dispersed throughout Northampton, many of whom are in danger of leaving the City due to costly market rents in and around downtown.
The renovation work on the project is divided into Phase I and Phase II. Phase I completion is expected for June 30, 2009, and includes architectural and design work, demolition, framing and wall construction, and basic code compliance activities. Much of this work was completed with donated labor and building materials. The CDBG-R funds will be allocated for Phase II of the James House. Phase II is 'shovel-ready', with bid documents currently being prepared. Phase II work items include classroom construction, bathroom renovations, construction of accessibility ramps, energy efficiency updates (including solar panels), installation of mechanical and electrical systems, lead paint abatement, and general carpentry work.
CDBG-R funds are being used in conjunction with a HUD Economic Development Initiative grant, a Massachusetts Technology Collaborative grant for energy efficiencies and solar photovoltaic panels, City of Northampton CDBG Entitlement funds, and private donations. The project is ready to proceed, and 100% of the CDBG-R funds expended will benefit low and moderate income residents as currently defined by HUD guidelines (project is located in a CDBG-eligible service area, and activities located at James House will benefit low/moderate income residents on a City-wide basis).
The CDBG-R work to be completed on the James House will create 10 construction jobs and retain up to 10 jobs at nonprofit agencies renting space at the complex.
Planning and Administration: $20,151
As per HUD guidelines issued in Docket No. FR-5309-N-01 Notice of Program Requirements for Community Development Block Grant Program Funding Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, up to 10% of CDBG-R funds may be used for general planning and administration activities. These resources will be utilized for staff capacity associated with CDBG program administration, support of affordable housing initiatives, and economic development activities. CDBG-R funds will provide for the retention of one (1) job.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
The City of Northampton's Year 25 Consolidated Action Plan states that a substantial amendment requires a public notice of the amendment, a 30-day comment period, and one public hearing. The provisions have been altered in accordance with HUD guidelines issued in Docket No. FR-5309-N-01 Notice of Program Requirements for Community Development Block Grant Program Funding Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, under which the City must post the CDBG-R Amendment on the City web site for public comment for a period of seven (7) days. The comment period will run from May 21, 2009 to May 28, 2009.
In addition to posting on the web site, the CDBG-R Substantial Amendment Notice will be posted in public buildings and spaces, and published in the Hampshire Gazette (paper of record). In order to further ensure the opportunity for public review and comment, a public hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 27 at 5:30 in the Hearing Room at City Hall, 210 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060
The entire CDBG-R Substantial Amendment to be submitted to HUD may be found at: http://www.northamptonma.gov/opd/cdbg
