2023-2024 CDBG Priorities RFP Public Hearing Presentation 2022-12-01City of Northampton
Office of Planning & Sustainability
Public Hearing for
Community Development Block Grant Program Year 2023-2024
Public Services, Housing, Community & Economic Development Priorities / Request for
Proposals
City Hall Hearing Room / Zoom
Dec. 1st, 2022 at 6:00 P.M.
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Office of Planning & Sustainability
•Keith Benoit, Community Development Planner
•kbenoit@northamptonma.gov
•Nathan Chung, Grants Administrator
•nchung@northamptonma.gov
•Carolyn Misch, AICP, Director
•cmisch@northamptonma.gov
Northampton Action Plan 2023-2024 1
Northampton Action Plan 2023-2024 2
Public Participation
•Please put your Name & Organization (if applicable) into the chat
•Slide numbers at the bottom right of page for reference
•Will take questions and comments at the end
•Questions & Comments will be a part of the public record for this Action Plan
•Please use the raise hand function under the “More” and “Reactions” at the
bottom of your screen
Thank you!
Annual Action Plan Planning Process
•Public participation is a major part of the collaborative
process in meeting the long-term goals established in the 5-
Year Consolidated Plan
•This Meeting
•Includes meetings with Housing Partnership, Disability
Commission, Stakeholder interviews, and Public hearings
•Meet requirements for CDBG
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CDBG Planning Overview
Consolidated Plan: Every Five Years
•Northampton Consolidated Plan 2020-2024 / Annual Action Plan year 1
•Describes communities needs, resources, priorities, and goals
•Hearings and focus groups
•Outreach to area organizations
•Needs assessment and market analysis
•Strategic plan with priorities and future actions –looks 5 years out
•Plan the plan
Annual Action Plan (AAP): Yearly July 1st –June 30th
•Northampton AAP Year 4 planning (*we are here)
•Details activities and actions to reach goals in Consolidated Plan
•Public hearings and RFP process
•Selection of activities
•Create detailed budget
•Detailed description of how funds are spent during the program year to address needs in
Consolidated Plan
•Work the Plan (July 1 –June 30) Northampton Action Plan 2023-2024 4
CDBG Three National Objectives
1.Primary Objective -70 % of funding must provide a benefit to low-
and moderate-income persons (after subtracting 20% admin cost)
•People earning less than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI)
•Northampton is part of the Springfield metropolitan area for
calculating the AMI
2.Prevent or eliminate slum and blight: spot or area basis (rarely used
in Northampton)
3.Meet an urgent community need: immediate threat to health and
welfare of residents, e.g. flood, tornado (rarely used, COVID is not
eligible)
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CDBG Eligible Activities
Public Infrastructure & Facilities –buildings open to the public (e.g. neighborhood center, community gardens),
improvements, public realm improvements (e.g. sidewalks, streetscapes, wheelchair curb cuts)
Activities for general government are not eligible, but ADA accessibility is
Housing -Acquisition, demolition, rehabilitation, and/or preservation of affordable housing (not
construction)
Public Services (limited to 15% of total award)
Employment training, child care, health care, crime prevention, recreation, substance abuse, supportive services,
education, fair housing etc.
Economic Development Activities
Micro-enterprise assistance (5 employees or less), loans and grants, job creation, acquisition, demolition,
rehabilitation of commercial buildings
Planning and Administration (limited to 20% of total award)
Salaries, public meeting notices, general administration cost
Slums & Blight
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Northampton 2020-2024 Con Plan Program Goals
•Preserve Affordable Housing, Tenancy Help & Rehab
•Homelessness Prevention
•Support for Emergency Shelter & Support Services
•Housing Rehabilitation Resources
•Affordable Homeownership for Individual & Families
•Housing for At-Risk & Special Needs Populations
•Economic Development & Income Maximization
•Non-Housing Community Development
•Improve Public Facilities & Infrastructure
•Public Facility or Infrastructure Activities other than Low/Moderate Income
Housing
•Removal of Slums and Blight
•Public Services
•Addressing Basic Needs
•Homelessness Prevention
•Support for Emergency Shelter & Services
•Housing Support Services
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Past Projects –Infrastructure, Public
Facilities, Housing & Economic Development
•Wheelchair Curb Cuts –ongoing
•Northampton Housing Authority Ramps at Cahill Apts. –completed
•Accessibility and Rehab Improvements at South St. Apts. –completed
•First-Time Homebuyers Program –Ended in 2022
•Construction at Village Hill North –completed
•Microbusiness Technical Assistance –ongoing
•Microbusiness Grants for COVID –Ended in 2022
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New Projects –Infrastructure, Public
Facilities, Housing & Economic Development
•Housing Rehab with CAPV
•Prospect Place Acquisition for Affordable Rentals –Valley Community
Development
•Forbes Library -Bathroom Accessibility Improvements
•Ryan Road Elementary Playground –Accessible Aeroglider Swing set
•Slum & Blight Removal at Moose Lodge
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Active Programs –Public Services
•The Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program -Center for Human Development (CHD)
•Emergency Food Pantry –Northampton Survival Center
•Fostering Immigrant Economic Independence -Center for New Americans
•Community Resources & Advocacy Services -Community Action Pioneer Valley
•Youth & Workforce Development Programs -Community Action Pioneer Valley
•Homeless Prevention -Community Legal Aid
•Pathways to Success -The Literacy Project
•Grove Street Inn Emergency Shelter -ServiceNet Inc.
•Interfaith Winter Shelter (IFS)-ServiceNet Inc.
•Community Kitchen -Manna
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Expected 2023-2024 CDBG Allocation
July 2023 Entitlement*$643,411
Planning & Admin @ 20%-$128,682
Public Services -$96,000
Available for Other Projects $418,729
*NOTE: Estimates above based on Y39 grant; Y40 entitlement award has not been released by HUD
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Northampton Action Plan 2023-2024 12
Northampton CDBG Dollars at Work
**Note: Entitlement allocations average $600,000 annually, but total annual expenditures could reflect unexpended dollars carried over from prior years.
Quick Yearly Summary
Expected Resources 2023-2024 2022-2023
Total CDBG Award by Year $643,411**$643,411
Carry Over Funds TBD $192,729
Project
Proposed 2023-2024
Allocation
2022-2023 Allocation
Housing TBD $387,932
Public Facilities TBD $101,544
Infrastructure TBD $0
Economic Development TBD $50,000
Public Services (15% cap)$96,000 $96,511
Planning & Administration (20% cap)$128,682 $128,682
Slums & Blight TBD $71,470
Key Dates for Annual Action Plan
Date Event
12/1/2022 CDBG RFP Public Hearing (this meeting)
1/13/2023 All CDBG Applications Due
February 2023 Public Services Review Committee Interviews
3/15/2023 Draft 2023-2024 AAP Public Hearing and Opening of Public Comments
4/17/2023 Closing of Public Comments on Draft AAP
5/12/2023 AAP Submission to HUD
June –July 2023 HUD Approval
June –July 2023 Award Letters Sent Out
7/1/2023 Start of 2023-2024 CDBG program year
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Public Services Advisory Committee & Interviews
•City Council, Finance Committee, and Legislative Matters Committee
Representative
•Human Rights Commission Representative
•Housing Partnership Representative
•Disability Commission Representative
•Homelessness Advocate Representative
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Public Services Advisory Committee
•New Funding Priorities from the advisory committee
•Higher award amounts, min: $15,000 –max. $20,000
•Fewer awardees
•Funding smaller organizations
•Paying living wages to organizations’ lowest paid employees
•Integrating people with lived-experience into organization (e.g. employment,
advisory board), interviewing during the review process
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2023-2024 Request for Proposals Instructions
For more information, see the Planning & Sustainability website:
https://www.northamptonma.gov/2083/CDBG-funding
Submission Deadline:
January 13th, 2023 4:59 PM
Online applications for
Public Services, Infrastructure, Public Facilities, Housing, & Economic Development at:
https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/northamptonma/Participant
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Draft 2023-2024 AAP Public Hearing
March 15th, 2023 at 6:00pm
At City Hall Hearing Room or via Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81469722034
•Public Comments: March 15th to April 17th, 2023
•All comments part of public record for the Action Plan
•Tentative submission to HUD May 12th, 2023
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Q & A
•If you forget your Question or Feedback during the meeting:
•kbenoit@northamptonma.gov
•413-587-1288
•Copy of these slides
•kbenoit@northamptonma.gov
•Or available at Planning & Sustainability website
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