The City of Columbia anticipates receiving approximately $860,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and $660,000 in HOME funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development available during 2012. These funds will be provided for CDBG and HOME eligible activities as part of the City’s Annual Plan for 2012. The City will also reallocate approximately $49,487 in leftover CDBG funding from previous years.

CDBG Funding

CDBG funding is provided in the following three categories: (1) public improvements, (2) housing, (3) public facilities, public services, and economic development. All CDBG funding must benefit low to moderate income households or eliminate a spot case of blight. A portion of these funds may be used by not-for-profit organizations submitting projects that are consistent with the City’s 2010 - 2014 Consolidated Plan. All CDBG applications must be received by the Department of Planning and Development, 701 E. Broadway, P.O. Box 6015, Columbia, Missouri 65205-6015 by 11:30 A.M., May 2, 2011 to be considered for funding. Once received, the City staff will review applications for eligibility in accordance with HUD regulations. Eligible CDBG applications will be evaluated by the Community Development Commission during May and June. On June 1, 2011 applicants will be provided an opportunity to make a presentation to the Community Development Commission (CDC) at a public hearing. The Commission will evaluate applications in accordance with established criteria and will recommend projects to the City Council for funding.

HOME Funding

Eligible HOME projects, which are listed as a high priority in the City’s 2010 – 2014 Consolidated Plan, will be included in the City’s Annual Plan on a first come-first serve basis, at the time all application requirements are met. Eligible HOME activities include: new construction for homeownership, or rental occupancy by special needs households; tenant-based rental assistance; and rehabilitation for homeownership or rental occupancy. All HOME assisted housing must benefit lower income households. A minimum of 15% of HOME funding will be set-aside for not-for-profit housing development organizations that qualify as a “Community Housing Development Organization” (CHDO). The City will issue a request for proposal for CHDO funding later in 2011.

Application Workshop

A pre-application workshop will be held on March 2, 2011 from 6:30 - 8:30 P.M. in Rooms 1A and 1B of the new City Hall building, 701 E. Broadway. Staff will review project eligibility; the Community Development Commission will review criteria, application submission procedures, and project implementation requirements.

Applications will be available at the pre-application workshop; the Department of Planning and Development office, 5th floor, Daniel Boone Building, 701 E. Broadway; or online at http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Planning/Housing_Programs/cdbg.php. The Daniel Boone Building is an accessible facility. Any person with special needs may call (573) 874-7239. A telecommunications device for the deaf is available at 1-800-MOR-ELAY. The City of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, handicap or sexual orientation.

If you wish to receive an application or have any questions regarding the application procedure, contact Tom Lata at (573) 874-7239 or e-mail tglata@gocolumbiamo.com.