City of Sharon recently issued the following announcement.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE CITY OF SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA 2022 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
Notice is hereby given that the City of Sharon, Mercer County, PA will hold public hearings on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at 5:30 PM and Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at 12 PM prevailing time, in the Council Chambers, 155 West Connelly Boulevard, Sharon, PA 16146. The Sharon Municipal Building and the Council Chambers are accessible to persons with physical disabilities. If special arrangements need to be made to accommodate residents in order for them to participate in the public hearing, please call Ms. Suzanne Kepple, CDBG Program manager, Community Development Department, City of Sharon, at (724) 983-3231 or skepple@cityofsharon.net to make those arrangements, or for the hearing-impaired call 711.
The purpose of this public hearing is to gather information for the City’s Annual Action Plan for FY 2022 which the City must submit to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Funds Program. The City of Sharon anticipates based on last fiscal year’s allocation that it will receive an estimated CDBG entitlement grant in the amount of approximately $621,362 and program income in the amount of $60,000 for FY 2022. These funding levels are contingent upon the final approval of the Federal Budget for FY 2022. In order to receive those funds, the City of Sharon must prepare a One Year Annual Action Plan for the use of CDBG funds. At least 70% of the CDBG funds must benefit low- and moderate-income persons living in the City of Sharon. In preparing its CDBG application the City intends to afford citizens, local agencies, and interested parties the opportunity to become involved in the planning process.
The following types of activities may be eligible for funding under the CDBG program:
Acquisition of property; disposition costs; improvements to public facilities, including the removal of architectural barriers; demolition and environmental clean-up; public services that are new or a quantifiable increase in the level of service; interim assistance; relocation payments for persons displaced as a result of a CDBG activity; rehabilitation of houses; code enforcement; special economic development activities; special activities undertaken by a community based development organization; home ownership assistance for purchase; planning; environmental; program administration; audit; and other miscellaneous activities.
If the City would undertake an activity that would result in the displacement of families or individuals, then the City would utilize its policy for minimizing such displacement. Furthermore, the City is responsible for replacing all low- and moderate-income housing units that may be demolished or converted as a result of CDBG funds.
All interested citizens are encouraged to attend this public hearing and they will be given the opportunity to present oral or written testimony concerning the needs of the City of Sharon and the use of CDBG funds to address those needs over the next fiscal year. Written comments may be addressed to Ms. Suzanne Kepple, CDBG Program Manager, Director, Community Development Department, 155 West Connelly Boulevard, Sharon, PA 16146.
Robert Fiscus, City Manager, City of Sharon
Original source can be found here.
