Tom Seymour, Minot
Many people in Minot have been interested in the process for the upcoming Community Development Block Grant funding for Minot. This information will give you some idea as to the process the City of Minot has to follow to acquire these important funds for flood recovery.
As I reviewed the April 16, 2012 Federal Register under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (Docket No. FR-5628-N-01) several items can be highlighted in the 17 page document from my perspective. It does say on page one that the city of Minot, N.D., also receives a direct award under this Notice. Table 1 in the document indicates that disaster number 1981 allocates $ 11,782,684 to the State of North Dakota and zero dollars to Ward and disaster number 1981 allocates $67,575,964 to the City of Minot, N.D., and that all funds must be spent within jurisdiction.
Additionally, as provided for in the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (HCD Act), funds may be used as a matching requirement, share, or contribution for any other Federal program.
Let's do an overview of this Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Grant process. To begin expenditure of CDBG disaster recovery funds, the following expedited steps are necessary for the City of Minot to obtain these funds in a timely manner.
- The City of Minot adopts a citizen participation plan for disaster recovery in accordance with the requirements of the Notice in the April 16, 2012 Federal Register.
- Grantee publishes its Action Plan for Disaster Recovery on the City of Minot's official Web site for no less than 7 calendar days to solicit public comment.
- City of Minot responds to public comment and submits its Action Plan (which includes Standard Form 424 (SF-424) and certifications) to HUD no later than 90 days after April 16, 2012.
- HUD expedites review (allotted 45 days from date of receipt; however, completion of review is anticipated much sooner).
- HUD accepts the Action Plan and sends a cover letter, grant conditions, and signed agreement to the City of Minot.
- City of Minot signs and returns the fully executed grant agreement.
- City of Minot ensures that the final HUD accepted Action Plan is posted on its official Web site.
- HUD establishes the City of Minot's line of credit.
- City of Minot requests and receives Disaster Recovery Grant Reporting system access ( if the grantee does not already have the access to this system).
- If it has not already done so, grantee enters the activities from its published Action Plan into the DRGR and submits it to HUD. ( Funds can be drawn from the line of credit only for activities that are established in the DRGR.)
- After the Responsible entity completes the applicable environmental review(s) pursuant to 24 CFR part 58 and, as applicable, receives from HUD or the State an approved Request for Release of Funds and certification, the City of Minot may draw down funds from the line of credit.
- The City of Minot must begin to draw down the funds no later than 180 days after Monday, April 16, 2012.
- Grantees may request additional waivers from the Department as needed to address specific needs related to their recovery activities.
- The City of Minot must program 100 percent of its grant funds at the necessary level of detail within 9 months of Monday, April 16, 2012.
Yes, your Minot City Council and its excellent staff will be reviewing these CDBD Disaster Recovery procedures, so do go to our city Web site (www.minotnd.org) to keep informed or contact your City of Minot leaders with your thoughts. It does take time to complete all the required processes in this grant request. Of course, a special thanks to our Congressional Delegation for their fantastic efforts in obtaining $400 million in CDBD funding for disasters in every part of the United States.