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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 22-461

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Substantial Amendment to the 2019—2023 Consolidated Plan and 2019 Action Plan

[52 Pa.B. 1746]
[Saturday, March 26, 2022]

 On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (P.L. 116-136) was signed into law to respond to the growing effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis. The CARES Act provides special allocations to the Commonwealth under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant and Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS Grant programs to be used to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19.

 Annually, Department of Community and Economic Development (Department) prepares the Action Plan which outlines the methods of distribution for Federal funding received by the Commonwealth through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Notice is hereby given that the 2019—2023 Consolidated Plan and the 2019 Action Plan will be amended to account for two additional allocations of CDBG-CV funding. For the 2019 Action Plan, the Methods of Distribution to the Commonwealth's resources were updated, which according to the Pennsylvania Citizen Participation Plan for the Consolidated Plan, constituted a significant change in the distribution of funds under the plan and requires a substantial amendment to the original Consolidated Plan and Action Plan.

 The Department conducted an unmet needs survey from December 20, 2021, until January 25, 2022. In addition, two listening sessions with grantees were held on March 8, 2022, and March 10, 2022. Additionally, the Department staff met with representatives of grantees at the PAHRA Capitol Conference held in February and consulted with the CD&H Advisory Committee to provide additional detail on the continued unmet needs in their communities.

 The information provided to the Department necessitated changing the method of distribution to broaden the scope of public infrastructure projects to be funded and reducing other project categories, which did not receive much consideration by units of local government during the last competitive application period. Proposed activities must support and document that they prepare for, prevent or respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 These changes triggered a substantial amendment. In accordance with a waiver of regulatory authority, approved by HUD on April 7, 2020, to the normal citizen comment period, the Commonwealth will hold a 5-day citizen comment period starting on Sunday, March 27, 2022, until April 1, 2022.

 The proposed substantial amendment for the 2019 Annual Action Plan is as follows:

Increase the amount of funding for Public Improvements and Facilities to $51,623,518

Broaden the categories of projects to be funded as Public Improvements and Facilities

Prioritize the Public Improvement and Facilities projects in the following order:

Water System Improvements

Sanitary Sewer Improvements

Broadband Infrastructure

Public Facilities (all other types)

Allow units of local government, which applied under the CDBG-Competitive Application to have their application evaluated under the CDBG-CV Program, if it meets the program requirements

Reduce the amount of funding for Public Service activities to $800,000

Reduce the amount of funding for Housing-related activities to $950,000

Reduce the amount of funding for Economic DevelopmentSmall Business Assistance activities to $950,000

Allow local governments to apply for funding for Economic Development activities

Public Review and Comment Period

 The Substantial Amendment to the 2019—2023 Consolidated Plan and 2019 Annual Action Plan is available on the Department's web site at http://dced.pa.gov, (select the Consolidated Plans, Annual Plans & Reports tab at the bottom of the home page). The substantial amendment is available for public comment from Sunday, March 27, 2022, through April 1, 2022.

 A virtual public hearing will be held on March 29, 2022, at 2 p.m. through Microsoft Teams.

 Individuals can join the virtual public hearing by phone at (267) 332-8737. The conference ID is 569 168 090#.

 The virtual public hearing will be shortened if there is no one to testify or there is minimal response.

 Individuals with disability or limited English proficiency who wish to participate in the virtual public hearing should contact Megan L. Snyder at (717) 787-5327 or TDD at (717) 346-0308 to discuss how the Department can accommodate their requests.

 Comments on the Substantial Amendment to the 2019—2023 Consolidated Plan and 2019 Annual Action Plan may be electronically submitted to the Department at RA-DCEDcdbghomequestions@pa.gov. Comments will also be accepted by telephone by calling (717) 787-5327. Written comments may be submitted to Megan L. Snyder, Center for Community and Housing Development, Department of Community and Economic Development, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225. Comments must be received by 4 p.m. on April 1, 2022, to be included as testimony in the Plan that will be submitted to HUD.

NEIL WEAVER, 
Acting Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 22-461. Filed for public inspection March 25, 2022, 9:00 a.m.]


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