Posted on 11/12/09
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Notice of Public Hearing
Town of Amherst
2010 CDBG funds
The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has designated the Town of Amherst a Mini-Entitlement Community for the purpose of receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Amherst is eligible to receive a maximum of $1,000,000 in block grant funds for housing and community development and social service activities benefiting low-and moderate-income citizens. In accordance with DHCD regulations the Community Development Committee will hold a Public Hearing on December 8th, 2009 at 5:30 P.M. in the Town Room of Town Hall to inform the Amherst community of proposed activities to be included in the Town’s 2010 Mini-Entitlement CDBG application and request input regarding other eligible activities. Any comments regarding current CDBG activities are welcome, especially those with respect to current social service activities.
The Town is proposing that the following activities be included in the Amherst’s application for 2010 CDBG funds:
1. Capital Requests
a. Infrastructure development at Olympia Drive
b. Acquisition or rehabilitation for housing homeless individuals.
c. Rehabilitation of property owned by the Amherst Housing Authority
d. Other possible acquisition or rehabilitation within and around the down-town or other village centers.
2. Social Services priorities include
a. Continuation of the Town’s childcare tuition assistance program. The Town is requesting citizens’ views on the effectiveness of this activity and suggestions on ways of improving this service.
b. To Sustain and expand current Town funded Social Service Programs that include currently funded CDBG activities. The Town is requesting Citizen’s views on the effectiveness of these social service activities and suggestions on ways of improving these services.
c. Emergency rental assistance, emergency fuel assistance, emergency food and emergency shelter services that can include case management and coordination.
3. General Administration and expenses.
Any person or organization wishing to be heard will be afforded an opportunity. Reasonable accommodations will be attempted upon written request to the Selectmen’s office two weeks prior to the meeting. Written comments may be submitted to the Community Services Department (community@amherstma.gov) or for more information or call (413) 259-3117.
The Town of Amherst encourages the involvement of minority business enterprises and women's business enterprises.
