Z. 2024-2025 RFP Public Hearing PresentationCity of Northampton
Office of Planning & Sustainability
Public Hearing for
RFP for Community Development Block Grant Funding
Community Development Block Grant Program Year 2024-2025
City Hall Hearing Room / Zoom
Nov. 30, 2023 at 6:00 P.M.
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Office of Planning & Sustainability
•Keith Benoit, AICP, Community Development Planner
•kbenoit@northamptonma.gov
•Court Cline, Grants Administrator
•ccline@northamptonma.gov
•Carolyn Misch, AICP, Director
•cmisch@northamptonma.gov
1Northampton Action Plan 2024-2025
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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
•We want to hear from you!
Northampton Action Plan 2024-2025
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
•Meet requirements for CDBG
3Northampton Action Plan 2024-2025
CDBG Planning Overview
Consolidated Plan: Every Five Years
•Northampton Consolidated Plan 2020-2024
•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 5 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) 4Northampton Action Plan 2024-2025
CDBG Three National Objectives
1.Primary Objective -70 % of funding must provide a benefit to low-
and moderate-income persons
•People earning less than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI)--
(less than $58,650 for a family of one, less than $67,000 for a family of two,
less than $75,400 for a family of three, or less than $83,750 for a family of four)
2.Prevent or eliminate slums and blight
3.Meet an urgent community need: immediate threat to health and
welfare of residents, e.g. flood, tornado (rare)
5Northampton Action Plan 2024-2025
CDBG Eligible Activities
Public Services (limited to 15% of total award)
Employment training, child care, health care, crime prevention, recreation, substance abuse, supportive services,
education, fair housing, accessing basic needs, etc.
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)
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 6Northampton Action Plan 2024-2025
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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Projects
•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
•Housing Rehab with CAPV –ongoing
•Prospect Place Acquisition for Affordable Rentals –Valley CDC
•Bathroom Accessibility Improvements –Forbes Library
•Aeroglider Accessible Playground Structure –Ryan Rd. Elementary
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Slum & Blight Removal at Moose Lodge
Northampton Action Plan 2024-2025 9
Active Programs –Public Services
•The Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program -Center for Human Development (CHD)
•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
•Community Kitchen –Manna
10Northampton Action Plan 2024-2025
Mobile Food Market -Grow Food Northampton
Northampton Action Plan 2024-2025 11
Housing Navigator -RFP
•Qualified Agency doing:
•Housing Search
•Activities to Get People Housing Ready
•Must Support Northampton Residents
•Includes people experiencing homelessness
•Or are Housing Insecure
•City will fund portion of salary, in line with other public service
awards
•Position will have some integration with Division of Community Care
•Integrated with other agencies and programs as proposed by the
applying agency e.g. mental health, CHAMPS, HMIS, other agencies
doing housing search
•Applying agency will fill out two applications
•Details in RFP
Northampton Action Plan 2024-2025 12
Expected 2024-2025 CDBG Allocation
July 2023 Entitlement*$630,060
Planning & Admin @ 20%-$126,012
Public Services -$94,509
Available for Other Projects $409,539
*NOTE: Estimates above based on Y40 grant; Y41 entitlement award has not been released by HUD
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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 $630,060**$630,060
Carry Over Funds TBD $192,729
Project
Proposed 2024-2025
Allocation
2023-2024 Allocation
Housing (rehab)$100,000 $387,932
Public Facilities TBD $101,544
Infrastructure TBD $0
Economic Development $50,000 $50,000
Public Services (15% cap)$94,509 $96,511
Planning & Administration (20% cap)$126,012 $128,682
Slums & Blight N/A N/A
Northampton Action Plan 2024-2025
Key Dates for Annual Action Plan
Date Event
11/30/2023 CDBG RFP Public Hearing (this meeting)
11/30/2023 CDBG Applications Open
1/17/2024 CDBG Applications Due at 10:00 AM
February 2024 Public Services Review Committee Interviews
3/14/2024 Draft 2024-2025 AAP Public Hearing and Opening of Public Comments
4/15/2024 Public Comment Period Ends on Draft AAP
5/14/2024 AAP Submission to HUD
June –July 2024 HUD Approval
June –July 2024 Award Letters Sent Out
7/1/2024 Start of 2024-2025 CDBG program year
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2024-2025 Request for Proposals Instructions
For more information, see the Planning & Sustainability website:
https://www.northamptonma.gov/2384/Apply-for-CDBG-Funding
Submission Deadline:
January 17, 2024 10:00 A.M.
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Draft 2024-2025 AAP Public Hearing
March 15, 2024 at 6:00pm
At City Hall Hearing Room or via Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81469722034
•Public Comments: March 14, 2024 to April 15, 2024
•All comments part of public record for the Action Plan
•Tentative submission to HUD May 14, 2024
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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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