CDBG info meeting Sept. 27 in Fallbrook

The Board of Supervisors approved the Fiscal Year 2007-08 annual funding plan strategy for US Department of Housing and Urban Development grants which includes setting hearing dates for the Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnerships, Emergency Shelter Grant, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS funding plans.

The supervisors’ September 19 approval includes setting a March 13, 2007, hearing for the preliminary 2007-08 funding plan. The deadline to submit proposals for Community Development Block Grant funding is October 27, 2006. The county’s Department of Housing and Community Development hosted several community meetings on the CDBG and other programs, including a September 27 meeting at the Fallbrook Community Center.

The 2007-08 funding plan strategy also includes program objectives and policies, targeted neighborhood revitalization areas, a listing of cities which will participate in the program to be administered by the county (each participating city is entitled to a specific share of funds and the spending discretion for those funds will be through the city councils), and recommended allocations of funds to general program categories. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development, which funds all four programs, is expected to provide approximately $11.7 million to the county and participating cities for the four programs. That total includes $4.85 million in CDBG funds, of which an estimated $1.9 million would be allocated for specific projects in the unincorporated areas.

Input received from the offices of the county supervisors was used by HCD staff to develop funding priorities for the unincorporated area for 2007-08. High priorities include parks and recreation facilities and libraries. Other funding priorities include child care centers, youth centers, senior centers, fire stations and equipment, sidewalks, and street improvements.

The March 13 hearing will be followed by a 30-day public review period, and final approval is expected to occur on May 8, 2007.