Results of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery

Results of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Funding Research Finance Committee Meeting January 22, 2021

Summary Counties and Departments contacted: • • • Hernando Hillsborough Manatee Pasco Pinellas * The Community Development Departments were contacted in each of the five counties * The request was to inquire about Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Funds(CDBG-DR) * CDBG-DR funds are designed for projects related to recovery stemming from a Declared Disaster * The protocol for making grant applications for regular CDBG funds with each county is the same * The types of projects funded by regular CDBG are based on a five-year plan * Some counties have diverted unencumbered funds to address COVID relief efforts

Hernando County Department feedback: • Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for HUD grant applications for Fiscal Year 2021 -22 (Oct. 1, 2021 -Sept. 30, 2022) has not been announced. An announcement is expected mid to late January. • The process allows for competing agencies to request funds from a list of prioritized activities. All applications are evaluated based on the conformity to prioritizations and ranked and scored by an independent committee. • Ordinarily, capital and operations would be a low priority, especially because of escalating needs arising from COVID. We were referred to Hernando County Mass Transit System and, after contacting, were informed that proposals are advertised the second quarter of the year.

Hillsborough County Department feedback: • Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for HUD grant applications for Fiscal Year 2021 -22 (Oct. 1, 2021 -Sept. 30, 2022) has not been announced. Expectations are to do so in mid January. Applications for grant funding will be due mid- March. • Housing, homelessness, the elderly, and child services are the prioritized services expected to receive the bulk of available funding. Capital projects are funded but could be restricted to specific areas or boundaries within Hillsborough County. • Because of current needs, Hillsborough County does not have unencumbered funds remaining to re-allocate to capital projects.

Manatee County Department feedback: • Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for HUD grant applications for Fiscal Year 2021 -22 (Oct. 1, 2021 -Sept. 30, 2022) has not been announced. • Due to the amount of anticipated funds for the upcoming program year, Manatee County stated that it is unlikely that future funds for anything other than addressing needs generated by COVID (i. e. , homelessness, housing, child services, rental assistance or direct assistance) will be recommended for funding. • Manatee plans to re-budget unencumbered funds to County capital improvements, however they referred us to Manatee Community Foundation. We have contacted them and are awaiting a response.

Pasco County Department feedback: • Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for HUD grant applications for Fiscal Year 2021 -22 (Oct. 1, 2021 -Sept. 30, 2022) has not yet been determined. • Pasco will follow the priorities list in its Five-year Consolidated Plan, focusing on housing, economic development, homelessness, and public services. • Pasco does not have funds available for capital or operations at this time.

Pinellas County Department feedback: • Pinellas County has recommended that we contact Forward Pinellas for funds relating to capital and operations as they have re-allocated existing funds to assist with alleviating unmet needs resulting from COVID. We are currently working with Forward Pinellas on other projects.

Diane Durr Procurement & Grants Manager Diane. durr@tbarta. com