PUBLIC NOTICE
2015 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) and HOME PROGRAMS
Consolidated Plan 2015-2019
Program Year 2015 Annual Action Plan
CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE
Housing and Neighborhood Services
205 W. Church Street
TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS, AND PERSONS: This is a 30-day comment period from June 14, 2015 – July 13, 2015
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON THE
5 YEAR 2015-2019 CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND 2015 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
The City of Grand Prairie anticipates receiving $1,716,781 in grant funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development during the 2015 Program Year which begins on October 1, 2015 and ends on September 30, 2016. The amount includes $1,339,700 for the Community Development Block Grant Program and $377,081 for the HOME Program to be administered by the City of Grand Prairie Housing and Neighborhood Services, Neighborhood Services Division.
The City’s long range housing, community and economic development goals are articulated in the new Five Year Consolidated Plan which covers the period from 2015 through 2019. Each year the City of Grand Prairie prepares an Annual Update of the Consolidated Plan. The Annual update forecasts how the city will use its HUD grant funds during the upcoming program year.
The City has completed a draft of the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan and PY15 Annual Action Plan and hereby presents the draft for public review and comment. The comment period will extend for 30 days beginning on June 14, 2015 and end at 4:30 on July 13, 2015. Public comments will be considered in the final draft of the Consolidated Plan which will be submitted to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development on or about August 15, 2015. To be considered in the final plan, written comments may be addressed to: City of Grand Prairie, Neighborhood Services Division, 205 W. Church Street, Grand Prairie, TX 75050. For additional information contact 972-237-8166.
Copies of the Consolidated Plan and Action Plan are available and may be reviewed at Housing and Neighborhood Services. You may view the plan online at: GPHNS.org
The 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan and 2015 Annual Action Plan will have a public hearing and be considered by the City of Grand Prairie, City Council for approval on July 14, 2015 at 6:30pm at the following location:
City Hall Council Chambers
317 College Street
Grand Prairie, TX 75050
The hearing location is wheelchair accessible. Persons needing interpreters or other accommodations are requested to telephone the City of Grand Prairie Housing and Neighborhood Services Department so that arrangements can be made in advance.
All citizens are encouraged to examine and submit comments regarding the PY15 CDBG and HOME Programs to Housing and Neighborhood Services. Comments must be received on or before July 13, 2015 by 4:30pm. Housing and Neighborhood Services of the City is the designated department which operates and provides oversight for the CDBG Program.
Funding Sources
Program Year 2015
10-01-15 to 9-30-16
City of Grand Prairie, Texas USA
CDBG FUNDING SOURCES AVAILABLE: CDBG Fund Allocation Total: $1,339,700
HOME FUNDING SOURCES AVAILABLE: PJ Fund Allocation Total: $377,081
CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE
2015 CDBG PROGRAM SUMMARY
Program Administration
CDBG Program Administration $193,511
This includes oversight, management, monitoring and coordination of the CDBG Program. This pays the full salaries of the CDBG/Neighborhood Services Manager, and support staff.
Indirect Cost $21,429
This consists of accounting, data processing, audit expenses, and other services provided by other City Departments in support of the CDBG Program. Allowable costs are provided in the Indirect Cost Allocation Plan.
Fair Housing $3,000
Provision of fair housing services and counseling is available to all city residents. The budget supports part of the Fair Housing Officer’s activities.
Rehabilitation, Code and Housing Related
Code Direct Delivery Inspection Services $75,000
Code Enforcement – CDBG program is designed to enforce city, state ordinances through the direction of the Code Enforcement Manager while initiating nuisance abatement cases and remove substandard structure that have become blight on the community. The main objective of Code Enforcement – CDBG is to monitor neighborhoods issuing written notices to property owners/residences requiring the removal of code violations from the area by the best means possible, i.e., voluntary compliance, rehabilitation of substandard structures or the demolition of substandard structures, including nuisance abatement, high weeds grass, trash and debris and junk/inoperable vehicles.
Emergency Repair $65,000
This program provides emergency repairs up to $5,000 for items that happen unexpectedly and without warning that threaten the safety, life, health, or well being of the occupant.
Housing Rehabilitation Reconstruction $295,805
This program provides full rehab assistance up to $25,000 and reconstruction up to $85,000 for citizens 60 years and older or disabled combining CDBG and/or Home Funds. Liens are filed to protect the City’s investment on single family low/mod owner occupied units. Depending on income, deferred payment, 0 percent and 3 percent loans are utilized.
Housing Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, Emergency, Homeownership and Direct Delivery Cost $275,000
Payment of operational expenses for the rehabilitation programs i.e. Housing and Emergency Rehabilitation Program, HOME Reconstruction and Buying-Power. This program pays for the salaries of staff positions.
Buying-Power Program $60,000
The City of Grand Prairie Buying-Power Program will help pay initial costs to help qualified low and moderate income citizens purchase a home. The City will provide up to $5,000 which can be used towards half the down payment and/or reasonable closing costs. The home purchased must be the primary residence of the buyer and located within the city limits of Grand Prairie.
Public Service Activities
Grand Prairie United Charities $44,363
Provide salaries for a Case Manager, Food Pantry Coordinator and Assistant Case Worker to assist Low Income families and water bill payments for clients. Services provided are food pantry, rent/mortgage, utility assistance (electric, water, gas), etc. for Grand Prairie families in need.
Children First Center $44,363
Funds are used for abuse counseling at a reduced cost. It makes counseling affordable to qualified low/mod income and presumptive benefactor persons. This includes counseling and guidance services with a primary focus on child abuse prevention.
Brighter Tomorrows $44,363
Payment of expenses related to the direct operation of a battered women and children shelter. This includes food, clothing, shelter, emergency transportation, emergency medical care, 24-hour a day crisis intervention, legal assistance in civil and criminal justice systems, educational arrangements for children, support groups, parenting classes, survival skills, and domestic and sex violence counseling.
GP Charlie Taylor/Tony Shotwell & Dalworth Day Camps $14,253
After school and day camps are provided Monday – Friday for school age children under the supervision of the Parks and Recreation Department. This service will be provided to low and moderate income children that reside in the City of Grand Prairie.
Lifeline Shelter for Families $44,363
This program was established to address the problem of homelessness in Grand Prairie providing full services to homeless families including shelter, food, clothing, transportation along with educational and employment services. This funding will be used to offset the salary of the case manager. The focus is on families with children based on students classified as homeless in the Grand Prairie Independent School District.
Star Group Community Development Corporation $9,250
Star Group Community Development Corporation provides the disenfranchised citizens of Grand Prairie with assistance and the necessary tools to help them change their lives and become productive citizens.
Public Facilities and Improvements
Sidewalks Repair/Replacement $150,000
This project will repair concrete sidewalks along streets where children routinely walk to school and in other CDBG Low-Moderate areas.
West Springdale Street Census Tracts #164.06-1, #164.06-2,#164.06-3,#164.07-3
Budget $150,000
Block #s:
301, 302, 305, 306, 309, 310, 313, 314, 317, 318, 321, 322, 325, 326, 329, 330, 401, 402, 405, 406, 409, 410, 413, 414, 417, 418, 421, 422, 425, 426, 429, 430, 433, 434, 437, 438, 441, 445, 449, 453, 457, 461, 501, 502, 505, 506, 509, 510, 513, 514, 517, 518, 521, 522, 525, 526, 530, 601, 602, 605, 609, 613, 617, 621, 622, 625, 626, 629, 630, 637, 638, 641, 642, 645, 646, 649, 701, 702, 705, 706, 709, 710, 713, 714, 717, 718, 721, 722, 725, 726, 729, 730, 733, 734, 737, 741.
HOME Program
Grand Prairie
Community Housing Development Organization, Inc. (CHDO) $56,562
This organization provides revitalization to Grand Prairie city wide through new construction and lot development for single family units.
Home Rehabilitations (HRP)/Home Reconstructions $320,519
The rehabilitation and reconstruction program provides deferred payment, 0% and 3% loans up to $85,000 for low and moderate-income homeowners 60 years and older or disabled citizens to rehab single-family homes and is used in conjunction with the CDBG Rehabilitation Program. Applications are accepted on a first-come first-served basis and rehabs and/or reconstructions are conducted based on need.
William A. Hills, Director
Housing and Neighborhood Services