The PA Dept. of Community and Economic Development is currently in the process of developing Consolidated Plans for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to identify housing and community development needs, priorities, and goals. These Plans will span 3 to 5 years and will determine where CDBG funding will be directed.
Eligible activities through CDBG must meet one of three national CDBG objectives: benefiting low- and moderate-income persons in a targeted area; preventing or eliminating slums and blight in a targeted area; or serving an urgent need. Code activities (including adoption, enforcement, and training) are eligible so long as those activities further one of the three national objectives. ICC and HUD have prepared a backgrounder for code officials on the CDBG program, which is available on our website at: www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/icc-guide-to-hud-cdbg-funds.
Specifically as it relates to code enforcement, CDBG funds may be used for costs incurred for code inspections and other aspects of code enforcement, including salaries and related expenses, and expenses for legal proceedings on code issues in deteriorated and deteriorating areas.
A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday October 23rd, 2019 in Harrisburg, PA . Public comment may be submitted and are due no later than 4pm on Friday November 22, 2019. For complete information on the hearing and being able to join remotely please see the PA Bulletin Notice – https://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol49/49-40/1475.html