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CDBG Application Cycle Neighborhood Revitalization, Housing Rehabilitation, and Commercial Revitalization CDBG applications are subject to an annual application cycle. The next application deadline is March 2002. The Economic Development CDBG application time frame, however, is different. Instead of being limited to annual cycles, Economic Development CDBG applications may be submitted monthly. In most cases, Economic Development CDBG applications are related to private development projects. Consultant According to the state's CDBG program rules, up to 8% of the CDBG funds can be Utilized to cover the cost of application preparation and project administration. These functions could be performed by a consultant. By using a consultant to prepare the application and administer the project, the county would get the benefit of the consultant's expertise with the program. Most consultants will prepare the application at no charge to the county, provided that the consultant is assured of administering the project if funded. If the application receives funding, the consultant would get a percentage of the project cost, ranging from 5% to 8%, for administering the project. If the project does not get funded, there would be no cost to the county for the consultant having prepared the application. CDBG Citizen Advisory Task Force As part of the CDBG program requirements, each jurisdiction submitting an application to the CDBG program must integrate citizen input into the application process. That process involves holding at least two public hearings, and convening a meeting of the CDBG Citizen Advisory Task Force (a Board appointed citizen task force) to review the CDBG application before it is submitted to DCA. In previous application cycles, the County's existing CDBG Citizen Advisory Task Force (CATF) was activated to review all applications and provide a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners. For the upcoming application cycle, the CATF should again be activated. ANALYSIS The Community Block Grant program is a competitive process. Accordingly, each jurisdiction's application is scored and competes with applications submitted by other jurisdictions. Through the process, all applications are ranked from highest to lowest. CDBG funds are then allocated to those jurisdictions with the highest scores until all the funds are utilized. While the county may not apply for commercial revitalization category grants because the county does not have a community redevelopment agency, the County can pursue grants in either the Housing Rehabilitation or Neighborhood Revitalization categories. Housing Rehabilitation grants are available to make improvements to sub -standard housing and to demolish dilapidated housing, as well as to help finance new homes for displaced residents. Neighborhood Revitalization grants on the other hand, can fund various infrastructure improvements within a neighborhood, including road paving, potable water improvements and hookups, and fire hydrants. In both 1999 and 2000, Indian River County submitted CDBG applications in the Neighborhood Revitalization category. Because of the competitiveness of the Neighborhood Revitalization category, neither application scored high enough to be funded. Generally, the Housing category is less competitive than the Neighborhood OCTOBER 23, 2001 —69— e C20 P Un 12