Open houses February 4-5 to get input on Clermont’s CDBG plan

BATAVIA, Ohio (Jan. 26, 2015) – With its population now exceeding 200,000, Clermont County is on its way to being designated an Urban County in the 2015 Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), significantly increasing the value of grants the county is eligible for.

To prepare for this, the county must submit a 5-year consolidated plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and is seeking input from residents as it develops the plan, said Andrew Kuchta, Director of the Department of Community and Economic Development. Residents and local officials are asked to contribute information on the availability of affordable housing; resources for substance abusers, the chronically homeless and homeless youth; senior services and centers; services for the disabled; youth and child care services; fire stations; health facilities; parks and rec facilities; sidewalks; and public transportation services, among others.

To gather input the county has scheduled open houses for:

6-7:30 p.m. Feb  4
Union Township Civic Center
4350 Aicholtz Road

1-2:30 p.m. Feb. 5
Clermont County Public Library
4450 Glen Este-Withamsville Road

Those who cannot attend are invited to take an online survey (www.clermontcountyohio.biz/consolidatedplan.aspx).

CDBG funds, administered through HUD, are one of the oldest block grant programs in the United States, and are primarily focused on affordable housing, infrastructure and other community needs. Previously, CDBG funds in Clermont County, which in FY 2014 were $432,000, were funneled through the state. As an Urban County, Clermont County will now get the funds directly from HUD.

In 2014, CDBG funds were approved for several projects including Clermont County Health District Septic Rehabilitation Program, $150,000; the Village of Williamsburg South Fifth Street Sidewalk Improvement project, $64,000; and Clermont Community Services for repairs to the parking lot at the James Sauls Homeless Shelter, $55,000.

For more information, contact Grant Coordinator Annette Decatur, adecatur@clermontcountyohio.gov, 513-732-7125. ######