Small Cities Community Development Block Grant

CITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The City of St. Augustine is considering submitting an application to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) for a Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application cycle. Non­ entitlement units of local government that have an open Neighborhood Revitalization, Housing Rehabilitation, Commercial Revitalization, or Economic Development subgrant are eligible to apply for Economic Development funding. Up to $13 million in Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2022 funding will be available to eligible applicants in the four program areas listed above.  The City may submit only one application for a single project or program. Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Persons can view this entire document at the City of St. Augustine website at: https://www.citystaug.com/125/Legal-Notices-Disclaimers

 To be eligible for funding, an activity must meet at least one of the following National Objectives:

  •  Benefit to Low and Moderate Income Persons - at least 51 percent of the beneficiaries must be low­ and moderate-income persons (total household income is at or below 80 percent of the area's median income)
  • Elimination of Slum and Blight - eliminate conditions of slum or blight as defined by state law and identified by the unit of local government on a spot or area basis, or
  • Address an Urgent Need - the activity must alleviate a condition that poses a serious and immediate threat to those living in the area. The condition must have occurred within 18 months of application. The unit of local government must demonstrate that it is unable to finance the activity on its own and that other funding is not available

Examples of some of the activities which can be applied for include but are not limited to the following:

  •  Water and Sewer Improvements,
  • Rehabilitation of Substandard Housing,
  • Street and Sidewalk Improvements,
  • Economic Development Activities that Create Jobs for Low-and Moderate-Income People,
  • Downtown Revitalization, including Facade Improvements, Streetscaping, and Underground Utilities,
  • Park Facilities and Community Centers, and
  • Drainage / Stormwater Improvements.

The range of activities that may be undertaken will be provided at the public hearing. In developing an application for submission to DEO, the City must plan to minimize displacement of persons as a result of planned CDBG activities. In addition, the City is required to develop a plan to assist displaced persons.

The public hearing to receive citizen views concerning the community's housing, economic and other community development needs will be held on Monday, March 27, 2023 at 5:00 PM or as soon as possible thereafter during a regular City Commission meeting to be held at the City of St. Augustine City Hall, City Commission Meeting Room, 75 King Street, St. Augustine, FL. 32084-4386. If you have questions concerning the CDBG application process or the list of eligible activities, please contact Eric Walters, Grants Administration Coordinator at (904) 209-4302, or via email to ewalters@citystaug.com.

The meeting is being held in a handicapped accessible facility. Non-English speaking, deaf, or visually impaired persons needing an interpreter or any handicapped person requiring special accommodation should contact Eric Walters, Grants Administration Coordinator, at (904) 209-4302 (TDD# (800) 955-8771) (TDD) or 1(800) 955-8770 (Voice) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.

A Fair Housing/Equal Opportunity/Handicap Accessible Jurisdiction.

March 6, 2023