New York State Small Cities

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New York State Small Cities Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program __________
____
Grant Application
Workshop October 2007
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New York State Office for Small Cities
(OFSC), a public benefit corporation, is a
subsidiary of the New York State Housing Trust
Fund Corporation Eliot Spitzer, Governor Deborah
VanAmerongen, Chairperson Joseph Rabito,
President The Office is also a member of the
team at the NYS Division of Housing and Community
Renewal
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Eligible Communities The NYS Office for Small
Cities administers the federal Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the
State of New York. The CDBG Program provides
resources to eligible cities, towns, and villages
with a population under 50,000 and counties with
an area population under 200,000 to revitalize
neighborhoods, expand affordable housing and
economic opportunities, and improve community
facilities and services. 1272 Eligible
communities in New York State
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(No Transcript)
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• CDBG Regulations
• Every CDBG funded activity must meet one of
  three national program objectives
• Benefit low-and moderate-income persons
• Prevention or elimination of slums blight
• Meet an urgent community development need
• 70 of all activities funded must benefit
  low-and moderate-income households, those with
  incomes at or below 80 of the area median income

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• 2008 Funding Opportunities
• Community Development
• Economic Development
• Secondary Funding Category
• Imminent Threat
• Technical Assistance/Capacity Building
• Planning Grants
• Section 108

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• 2008 CDBG Allocation
• Anticipated allocation 48 million
• Community Development 60 28.8
• Economic Development 34 16.2
• Imminent Threat 2 1
• Technical Assistance Capacity Building
  1 .5
• Community Planning 1 .5
• Program Administration 2 1

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• 2008 Annual Competitive Round
• Allocation 28.8 million (est.)
• Project Types
• Housing (44)
• Public Water (18)
• Comprehensive (14)
• Public Wastewater (12)
• Public Facilities (6)
• Microenterprise (6)

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• 2008 Economic Development (open round)
• Allocation 16.2 million (est.)
• Open Round funds may be used for general economic
  development activities that create and/or retain
  permanent job opportunities principally for low-
  and moderate-income persons, through the
  attraction, expansion and retention of business
  and industry in New York State.
• Maximum Grant Assistance 750,000
• Minimum Grant Assistance 100,000

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• 2008 Secondary Funding Categories
• Imminent Threat
• Technical Assistance/Capacity Building
• Planning Grants
• Section 108 Loans

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• 2008 Draft Action Plan Highlights
• Planning Grants
• New York State Initiative Points
• Green Building
• Broadband
• Main Street/Downtown
• Shared Municipal Services

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• Proposed Project Funding Cap Limits
• Public Infrastructure (cities, towns villages)
• 600,000 (from 400,000)
• Housing, Public Facilities Infrastructure
  (counties)
• 750,000 (from 600,000)
• Joint Infrastructure
• 900,000 (from 750,000)
• Economic Development
• 15,000/FTE job created or retained (from
  7,500)

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Proposed Funding Limits Housing Towns, Cities
or Villages 400,000 Counties
750,000 Public Infrastructure Towns, Cities or
Villages 600,000 Counties 750,000 Public
Facilities Towns, Cities or Villages
400,000 Counties 750,000 Joint
Infrastructure Infrastructure
900,000 Microenterprise Grants
400,000 Comprehensive Grants 650,000
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• Eligible Activities (24 CFR 570.201)
• Clearance, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, and
  Construction of Buildings (Including Housing)
• Economic Development
• Public Facilities and Improvements
• Homeownership Assistance
• New Housing Construction
• Microenterprise Assistance
• Program Administration Costs

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• Eligible Activities (cont.)
• NDO Activities
• Acquisition of Real Property
• Architectural Barrier Removal
• Planning and Capacity Building
• Technical Assistance
• Housing Services
• Disposition of Real Property
• Relocation

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• Application Package
• Applicant/Program Information
• Needs Description
• Community Development Activities
• Impact Description
• Activity Detail Form
• Bonus Points
• Program Schedule
• Disclosure/Update Report
• Certifications
• Exhibits

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• 2. Needs Description
• Specific to the proposed activity
• Needs of the Benefit Area
• Demographic Information
• Third Party Documentation
• Surveys
• Waiting Lists
• Architect/Engineering Report
• Letters from Regulatory Agencies
• Consent Orders

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• Documentation of Need
• Census Data must match proposed benefit area
• Surveys - Appendix G
• Income surveys
• Response rates
• Housing condition surveys Appendix I
• Use proper definitions

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• 3. Community Development Activities
• What is proposed?
• Type of assistance
• Level of assistance
• Eligibility requirements
• Target Area definition
• Beneficiaries
• Demand
• Other funding

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Realistic Cost Estimates Third Party
Documentation Engineering reports Contractor
estimates Davis-Bacon Compliance If you dont
mention it, it is assumed you DID NOT include DB
Wage Rates Housing programs Inspection
reports Contractor estimates Existing program
experience
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• Other Funding Sources
• Include documentation
• Describe relationship to current proposal
• Timing/schedule when are funds available
• Restrictions

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Compliance with Community Plan How does project
fit? Other activities/funding sources Status
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• 4. Impact Description
• Who will benefit?
• Should match Form 5 Activity Detail
• Be specific
• Include spin-off benefits

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• Public Benefit
• Annual Savings
• NYS Comptrollers Limits
• 2007 Average Estimated Costs for County and Town
  Special Improvement Districts
• Towns Sewer 568
• Water 603
• Counties Sewer 345

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• National Objective Compliance
• Delineating beneficiaries
• Single Family/Multi-Family Housing
• Laterals Housing Rehabilitation
• New Construction vs. Rehabilitation
• Microenterprise
• Training/Technical Assistance
• Loans/Grants to LMI Businesses
• ME/ED Jobs - FT, PT, FTE

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National Objective Codes LMH - Low/mod housing
direct benefit LMA - Low/mod area benefit LMC -
Low/mod limited clientele benefit LMCMC -
Low/mod limited clientele, Microenterprise LMJ -
Low/mod job creation/retention SBA - Slum/Blight
area benefit SBS Slum/Blight spot basis
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National Objective Codes
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Project Schedule 24 months Ensure project
completion
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• Application Pointers
• Adequate descriptions (esp. Needs)
• Consistency
• Figures/information
• Form 5
• Use proper National Objective
• Address feasibility
• CONTACT US!
• FOLLOW DIRECTIONS!

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• Rating and Ranking
• Municipal Poverty Score
• Program Impact
• Bonus Points
• Fair Housing/EEO
• NYS Initiative Points
• Rated against all applications
• in same category

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• Selection Criteria
• Quality of application
• Appropriateness of activity
• Severity of need
• Public benefit
• Project feasibility
• Sustainability of activity outcomes
• Public support
• CDBG per job
• Reasonableness of costs, including program
  delivery and administration

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• Deadlines/Process
• NOFA early January
• Application Available On-line
• Two Public Hearings
• Proposed Deadline April 7

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• Economic Development Program
• Statutory objective LMJ
• Gap financing
• Up to 40 project costs
• Typical participation 100,000 - 750,000
• Community applies on behalf of business
• Includes infrastructure to assist business

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• Initial Inquiry
• Brief Project Description
• Draft Source and Use of Funds
• Jobs Information
• Email or fax
• Webpage Inquiry Form

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• Preliminary Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ)
• 7 Page Fill-in the blank
• Brief narratives
• Job details
• Financing details
• Complete Business/Financial Plan
• Three years financial statements
• Current financial statement
• Three years projected financial statements

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• Invitation to Apply
• Formal Application
• Similar to Competitive
• Public Hearings
• Certifications
• Consideration by HTFC Board of Directors

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• Project Evaluation
• Financial need for the project
• Impact on employment for LMI persons
• CDBG per job
• Financial and technical feasibility
• Project is supported by the market
• CDBG funds should not exceed 40 of eligible
  costs
• Current and future impact of the project and
  public benefit
• Project costs are reasonable
• Project significantly supports the communitys
  strategic plan
• Community capacity

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Sample Source and Use of Funds
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Feeling Lost?

• Technical Assistance
• Call us [phone]
• Visit our office
• Review previous applications

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• New York State Office for Small Cities
• 4 Empire State Plaza, Suite 600
• Albany, NY 12223-1401
• [phone]
• www.nysmallcities.com
• www.dhcr.state.ny.us