NON-ENTITLEMENT COMMUNITIES

The Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC) announces the availability of approximately $60 million of Federal funds for the following programs:

• $60 million - NYS Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for CDBG-CV (COVID-19 Response)

NYS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM-CV

Program Description

The New York State Community Development Block Grant Program (NYS CDBG) is a federally funded program administered by the Housing Trust Fund Corporation’s (HTFC) Office of Community Renewal (OCR). The CDBG-CV COVID 19 program will provide resources to non-entitlement communities and all entitlement jurisdictions to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.

CDBG Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include non-entitlement Villages, Towns, Cities or Counties throughout New York State, and all metropolitan cities and urban counties that are HUD designated Entitlement communities. HCR will make $60 million available with no less than $30 million to be awarded to non-entitlement communities. Additional funds may be made available in a subsequent funding round.

CDBG-CV General Activity Areas

An applicant may request funding for one or more activities. Applicants must document need and demand for proposed activities and present clear proposal for timely expenditure of funds.

• Supporting Small Business

o Examples: Point of sale improvements, new equipment or fixtures to guide social distancing, working capital to resume operations, etc.

• Improving Air Quality in Public Facilities

o Examples: Assist municipal public facilities, nursing homes, supportive and public housing developments and other critical institutions with reconfiguration and physical adjustments to comply with social distancing, reduced occupancy and other requirements.

• Environmental Improvements in Housing for Safe Shelter

o Examples: Lead remediation, rental and single-family homeowner repairs, reconfiguration of communal spaces, down payment assistance to increase homeownership and reduce density in housing, etc.

• Conversion of Underutilized Buildings for Affordable Housing

o Examples: Conversion or of vacant and abandoned residential and commercial properties for housing and to better respond to COVID-19.

• Public Services

o Example: Vaccine Outreach and awareness, Support for mental health services, wi-fi connectivity for underserved communities.

2020 CDBG-CV Funding Limits

These limits are provided as guidelines for expected award limits. Larger awards may be approved based on demonstrated need and capacity to complete proposed activities within 12-month term.

Application for Funding

The 2020 Application for CDBG-CV Activities will be available on the NYS CDBG Homes and Community Renewal web site on Wednesday, March 17th, 2021. Applications will be accepted on an open round basis with rolling awards until 4:00 pm Friday, August 27, 2021 or until funding has been exhausted. Applications must be submitted using the application form provided online and submitted to [email protected].

The above-stated application deadline is firm as to date and hour. In the interest of fairness to all applicants, applications received after the specified date and time will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered for funding. Applicants should make early submission of their applications to avoid risks of ineligibility resulting from unanticipated delays or problems.

Applicants may make a request, based on demonstrated need, to submit a paper application in lieu of using the provided email inbox. Requests for approval to submit a paper application must be sent to: Crystal Loffler, Deputy Commissioner, Homes and Community Renewal, Office of Community Renewal, Hampton Plaza, 38-40 State St., 4th Fl. S, Albany, NY 12207

Contact Information: For inquiries or technical assistance regarding the NYS CDBG program, please contact: Home and Community Renewal, Office of Community Renewal, 38-40 State St., 4th Fl. S, Albany, NY 12207, [email protected], https://hcr.ny.gov/community-development-block-grant, (518) 474-2057