When I worked for the federal government, I had the pleasure of working on a White House Economic Development (EZ/EC) Initiative. It was called the Federal Empowerment Zone program, administered through HUD and USDA but funded by HHS. During this experience, I learned the power of planning and the value of a comprehensive development plan.
The EZ/EC application required low- to moderate-income and underserved communities to compete for $3 million to $120 million dollars for community revitalization. The application was a comprehensive development plan.
This program was unique because it had no losers. This meant that even if you were not selected to receive a federal EZ/EC award, your community was automatically placed at the front of the line for future federal funding opportunities over the next 10 years.
It was amazing that even communities that didn’t receive an EZ/EC grant award (Champion Communities) could generate $30 million in other funding based on the strength of their application. Therefore, a comprehensive community plan can be worth up to $30 million.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Now, it is easy to get real estate developers to pay for pre-development planning in Beverly Hills or Northwest Arkansas because those are very wealthy areas. But who pays for pre-development plans in low- to moderate-income communities in the Delta, like Pine Bluff?
The answer is our good old Uncle Sam. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires communities that receive certain types of federal funding, such as Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds, to engage in a consolidated planning process.
This process involves creating a Consolidated Plan, which outlines the community’s housing and community development needs, priorities and strategies for addressing those needs over a three- to five-year period.
As part of the consolidated planning process, HUD mandates that participating communities provide opportunities for public participation and comment. The public comment process typically involves the following steps:
1. Community Needs Assessment: The community develops a draft Consolidated Plan that assesses housing and community development needs, sets priorities and proposes strategies for addressing those needs.
2. Public Notice: The community publishes a notice informing the public that the draft Consolidated Plan is available for review and comment. The notice is usually published in local newspapers, on the community’s website and in other public places.
3. Public Comment Period: The community provides a period, typically 30 days, during which the public can review the draft Consolidated Plan and submit written comments. Some communities may also hold public hearings or meetings to gather additional input.
4. Consideration of Comments: After the public comment period closes, the community reviews all comments received and considers them in developing the final Consolidated Plan.
5. Final Plan: The community incorporates relevant public comments and feedback into the final Consolidated Plan and submits it to HUD for approval.
The City of Pine Bluff will receive more than $800,000 ($640,000 in CDBG and another $189,000 for HOME funds) this year. This is your chance to let your voice be heard and participate in the planning process for delivering HUD funding in our community. The planning process requires two public meetings: a community needs assessment meeting (May 30) and the allocation meeting (June 20) in the old City Council Chambers.
In the first public meeting, the ECD Office will listen to what the citizens prioritize as needs for their community. In the latter public meeting, the ECD Office will share how they will allocate CDBG funding based on the citizens’ stated desires. Therefore, this is your chance to weigh in on how ECD should spend nearly $1 million for community-based projects over the next year.
HUD’s public comment requirements aim to ensure that the consolidated planning process is transparent, inclusive and responsive to the needs and concerns of the community, particularly low- and moderate-income residents and other stakeholders. By engaging the public in the planning process, communities can develop more effective and equitable strategies for addressing housing and community development challenges.
Michael McCray is a cultural development specialist with the city of Pine Bluff Department of Economic & Community Development.