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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-20-2000 - 8pORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: January 18, 2000 Action Agenda Item No. Q _ n SUBJECT: North Carolina TANF Housing Program DEPARTMENT: Housing/Comm. Development PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Letter of Interest INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara L. Fikes, ext. 2490; TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 o approve a su mission o a etter o nterest tote epartment o Commerce -Division of Community Assistance indicating the County's interest in applying for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. BACKGROUND: In December 1999, the County was notified of the receipt of a TANF Housing Grant in the amount of $312,395. The TANF Housing Program is a part of Governor Hunt's Next Step Initiative designed to assist as many TANF eligible families as possible secure affordable housing through rental assistance and/or other housing related support services. All recipients of TANF Housing Grants will be given the opportunity to pursue Small Cities CDBG funding for projects that are part of a coordinated self-sufficiency strategy. A maximum of $250,000 is available per county. The N.C. Department of Commerce -Division of Community Assistance (DCA), the administrator of the state Community Development Block Grant Program, is requiring all counties interested in CDBG funding to submit a Letter of Interest by January 31, 2000. The Letter of Interest must be signed by the Chief Elected Official. After submission of the Letter of Interest, the County should have approximately three to six months to develop a viable CDBG funding application. FINANCIAL IMPACT: This is an opportunity to receive an opportunity to receive an additional $250,000 in CDBG funding above and beyond the $312,395 TANF Housing Grant. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends approving the submission of a Letter of Interest to the N.C. Department of Commerce -Division of Community Assistance indicating the County's interest in applying for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. 2 January 18, 2000 William A. McNeil, Director Division of Community Assistance 1307 Glenwood Avenue 4313 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-4313 Re: Letter of Interest TANF Housing Program Dear Mr. McNeil: As you may be aware, Orange County was a recipient of $312,395 in TANF Housing Grant funds under the Governor's Next Steps Initiative. It is my understanding that your office is providing the opportunity for TANF grant recipients to apply for CDBG funding under a special set-aside for the Next Steps Initiative. Orange County is interested in developing an application for CDBG funding in conjunction with the TANF Housing Grant award. Over the next few months, our Housing and Community Development Director, Tara L. Fikes, will be working with our partnering agencies to develop a sound application for your review. If you need additional information regarding our application, please contact Ms. Fikes at (919) 245- 2490. Thank you for providing this opportunity for additional funding for housing purposes. Sincerely, Moses Carey, Jr. Chair