MANSFIELD (UPDATED) — Three of six Community Development Block Grant public service proposals are slated to receive funding for fiscal year 2017.
According to the Annual Action Plan that was approved by Mansfield City Council, the trio that will get CDBG funds includes Richland County Transit, the North End Community Improvement Collaborative and Culliver Reading Center. Those that will not receive funding are III Enterprises KRB, Millennials Create and Akua Hair Clinic.
Richland County Transit will get $74,685.56. RCT requested $70,000 to support its door-to-door, complementary para-transit service that is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
NECIC will receive $18,739. The organization applied for $28,320 to support the coordination of the Community Garden Network and the administration of the Community Garden. Last year, NECIC was awarded $16,000 in CDBG funds.
Culliver Reading Center will get $12,380.50. The reading center requested funds in the amount of $43,527.52 to support its services, which include one-on-one tutoring and mentoring, as well as trips to the Blust Avenue Teaching Garden and Mohican Outdoor School.
Culliver Reading Center submitted two applications, one of which was submitted after the deadline.
Ed Tharp, community development and housing director for the city, said he could only accept the one which was turned in by the deadline.
“We have to be fair to everybody,” he said.
III Enterprises KRB requested $300,000 to be used for emergency repairs/rehab assistance to eliminate blight and slums in the community.
“This program meets a national objective; however, this is what the City of Mansfield currently does,” Tharp said. “We have two rehabilitation officers on staff full-time to implement this grant, so it’s not really needed at this point. This isn’t to say it wouldn’t be needed in the future.”
Akua Hair Clinic asked for $15,000 in start-up money.
“This project lacks specific costs and line items for the modeling of the business,” Tharp said.
“These are all things I need to report to Housing and Urban Development to justify what we spent the money on.”
Millennials Create requested $185,000 to create a youth service center that would feature an after-school program, as well as a roller rink.
“I like this project; however, it lacks administrative detail,” Tharp said. “For example, if we’re going to do something with the Mansfield City Parks, we need to have something in place — agreements with the Mansfield City Parks — to actually make this happen.”
The public service cap for CDBG funds this year amounted to $105,805.06. The total requests for funding, however, came in at $606,320.
The CDBG is one of the longest-running programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It funds local community development activities such as affordable housing, anti-poverty programs and infrastructure development.
According to Tharp, President Donald Trump’s “snapshot budget” eliminates the CDBG program and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program.
“I don’t think it’ll happen, but it’s something that’s been threatened before, and I’ve never seen a president just come right out and say something like this,” Tharp said.
These programs are very beneficial to communities nationwide, Tharp said.
“The need is so great, and it’s very helpful that we get the dollars, but we could use a whole lot more,” he said.
The Annual Action Plan, which provides a comprehensive overview and explanation of the use of CDBG and HOME funds for the period of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, is available for public review during normal business hours at the Department of Community Development at the City of Mansfield building, as well as the city website at http://www.ci.mansfield.oh.us/.
The city welcomes written comments on the Annual Action Plan. Written comments received by May 13 will be included as part of the Annual Action Plan submission to HUD.
Questions or comments about the Annual Action Plan should be directed to the Department of Community Development at the City of Mansfield or by calling 419-775-9793.
