San Andreas, CA…NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: The Calaveras Health and Human Services Agency shall conduct a public meeting at 2:00 PM, or shortly thereafter, on Tuesday, the 18th of July, 2017 in the Sequoia Community Room, located at 509 East St. Charles Street, San Andreas, CA. The meeting is being called by the Calaveras Health and Human Services Agency for the purpose of soliciting citizen’s views to set priorities for the potential submission of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application to the State Department of Housing and Community (HCD) for the Butte Fire Notice of Funding Availability and 2017 funding cycle. Citizen participation is encouraged throughout the grant process, the requirements for which are explained in Section 7080 of the State Community Development Block Grant program regulations.

The dollar amount of the Community Development and Economic Development Allocations varies each year, and is listed in the State Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). Last year, the maximum allowable under the Community Development Allocation was $2,000,000. The limit for 2017 is not determined but may be $3-5 million. The Economic Development “Over the Counter” (OTC) Allocation requires a separate application with a maximum limit of $3,000,000 per year. The NOFA also includes Native American and Colonias Allocations. The Native American Allocation is only for areas of high concentrations of low-income Native American residents, who are not part of a federally recognized Native American Indian tribe or Rancheria. The Colonias funding is only for designated communities within 150 miles of the Mexican-American border. The Butte Fire NOFA funding limit is approximately $3,000,000.

The major activity categories under the allocations in the Butte Fire and 2017 NOFAs are homeownership assistance, housing rehabilitation, community facility and public work projects, business assistance and microenterprise activities, planning studies and public service programs. Eligible activities paid for with state CDBG funds must meet one or more of the three national objectives listed in CDBG federal statutes as follows: benefit to low income households or persons; elimination of slums and blight; or meeting urgent community development need (a need from a state or federally declared disaster).

There is no guarantee that an application submitted by the County will be funded as there are always more proposals submitted than there are funds available. Interested citizens, civic organizations and citizen groups are encouraged to express their opinions and ideas at this hearing. Any proposed application to HCD will be submitted to a public hearing before its submission to afford citizens an opportunity to examine its contents and submit comments on it.

The County promotes fair housing and makes all its programs available to low and moderate income families regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual preference, marital status or handicap. If you need special accommodations to participate in the public hearing please contact Mark Ksenzulak at (209) 754-2816.

A public information file, including the State regulations, will be available at the County Health and Human Services Agency during normal working hours from July 11 to July 18, 2017. Written comments by County residents are invited in addition to comments at the public hearing. Please mail to: CDBG, Calaveras Health and Human Services Agency, 509 East St. Charles Street, San Andreas, CA, 95249.

Published: July 3, 2017 VSN