NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY
STATE OF FLORIDA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)
2008 DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDING
The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) announces the availability of disaster recovery funding in the amount of $81,063,855, to address needs resulting from federally declared disasters in 2008. This CDBG disaster recovery funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as outlined in Federal Register / Volume 74, Number 29 and Federal Register / Volume 74, Number 156, and can only be used for Recovery from the federally declared disasters noted in the Federal Register Notices. The federal disaster declarations issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) cover counties affected by Tropical Storm Fay (FEMA-3288-DR and FEMA-1785-DR), Hurricane Ike (FEMA-3293-DR), and Hurricane Gustav (FEMA-1806-DR). Please note that the Department initially noticed a Draft Action Plan and comment period on the first allocation of funding in the amount of $17,457,005. However, since that Action Plan was not completed prior to the award of additional funds in the amount of $63,606,850, and the Action Plan for the additional funds must be submitted to HUD no later than September 30, 2009, the Department determined that best alternative was to combine the two allocations since they were for recovery from the same weather events.
The State of Florida is required to submit an Action Plan to HUD which reflects proposed uses of the funds for disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of infrastructure, public facilities, housing, and commercial or business areas. Urban Entitlements, Non-Entitlements eligible to participate in the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, and federally recognized Indian Tribes within (or contiguous to) the counties listed in the disaster declarations are eligible to apply for assistance.
The Department used FEMA damage assessment data, which was collected at the county level, to determine counties with the greatest unmet need. Damage assessment data and proposed allocations are reflected in the Draft Action Plan.
HUD has provided alternative Citizen Participation requirements to allow states to expedite the allocation of this funding. Therefore, the state will not conduct a public hearing on the Draft Action Plan. To facilitate the public comment process, the Draft Action Plan is being emailed to local governments and posted to the Department’s website at: http://www.floridacommunitydevelopment.org/disasterrecovery.cfm.
Comments will be accepted from September 2, 2009, through September 26, 2009, and can be hand-delivered, emailed or mailed to the Department.
Attention: CDBG Program
Department of Community Affairs
2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100
Telephone: (850)922-6075
Email: glenn.hodges@dca.state.fl.us or stacie.roldan-toci@dca.state.fl.us
The application cycle will be from October 27, 2009 through December 15, 2009. An application workshop will be held on October 27 and 28, 2009. Additional information about the workshop will be provided to all eligible local governments. Should the Department find it necessary to change the application cycle start and end dates, notice will be provided to all eligible local governments and will be posted to the Department’s website.
A copy of the application, along with other relevant information, will be provided to eligible local governments and posted to the Department’s website. Applicants must certify that no other funding is available to address the proposed activities reflected in the application and must document that they are directly a result of the 2008 storms. Please contact the Department at the address and telephone number listed above if you have questions.