As an Entitlement Community under the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, the City of Sparks recently approved an action plan to continue the efforts of a grant received in the amount of $738,362.25 to be used for community living improvements.
Receiving unanimous support from the Sparks City Council in its July 24 meeting, the action plan is currently in year three of the 5-year effort. This program includes the ability to support assisted living activities, fair housing initiatives, and determination to end homelessness in Sparks. It helps pedestrian improvements in the area which go towards enhancements to the area’s sidewalks, curbs, and pavement, plus includes some money for house rehabilitation and programming.
Along with a direct CDBG funding allocation, the City of Sparks also partners with Washoe County and the City of Reno in the Washoe County HOME Consortium (WCHC). The three jurisdictions may receive additional annual funding from HOME if it proves that it meets three basic goals of providing decent housing, expanded economic opportunities, and a suitable living environment in its communities.
City of Sparks staff prepared an action plan to submit along with the application for CDBG funds that outlines the proposed activities to be implemented with CDBG and HOME monies. On June 15, the City of Sparks received a letter from HUD which stated that its annual allocation for the 2017-18 fiscal year is in the amount of $622,192. The $738,362.25 includes $116,170.25 in unspent funds from previous years that will be reprogrammed into previously approved activities.
Here is a breakdown of how the money is proposed to be spent in the 2017-18 FY:
• Up to $25,000 to support Fair Housing activities
• Up to $13,125 for Continuum of Care (CoC)
• Up to $65,000 for Planning and Administration
• Up to $96,160 for Community Assistance Center activities (homeless shelter)
• Up to $45,000 for Housing Rehabilitation Administration
• Up to $307,907 of new grant funding for pedestrian improvements which includes $49,000 in design/survey services, leaving a balance of $258,907.
• Up to $116,170.25 of reprogrammed funding/program income from previous grant years, including $46,170.25 of reprogrammed funds and approximately $70,000 of program income to be used specifically for housing rehabilitation deferred loan activities
• Up to $50,000 of new grant funding for implementation of single-family housing rehabilitation program activities
• Up to $20,000 for Housing Rehabilitation Emergency Repair Grant activities
Sparks City Council moved to approve the proposed project funding allocations and submit the Year 3 Action Plan to HUD.
“This is a great program,” said Sparks City Councilman Ron Smith. The full 43-page action plan is available to view at cityofsparks.us.
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