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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 17-1080

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Amendment to the 2014 Annual Action Plan; Substantial Amendments to the 2015 and 2016 Annual Action Plans; Public Meeting

[47 Pa.B. 3585]
[Saturday, July 1, 2017]

 The Department of Community and Economic Development (Department) is amending the Commonwealth's 2014, 2015 and 2016 Annual Action Plans to add the competitive grantees for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs, since they have been awarded. This action requires no citizen comment. A public comment period to review the proposed substantial amendment to the Annual Action Plans for Federal Fiscal Years (FY) 2015 and 2016 is from July 2, 2017, through August 1, 2017.

 Annually the Department prepares the Action Plan which outlines the method of distribution for Federal funding received by the Department. The 2015 and 2016 Action Plans for these funds were finalized and submitted to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for review on October 8, 2015, and December 22, 2016, respectfully. The Department is proposing changes to the method of distribution to the HOME Program for both years, which according to the Commonwealth's Citizen Participation Plan for the Consolidated Plan, constitute a significant change in the distribution of funds under the HOME Program and thus necessitate a substantial amendment to the original Action Plan. In addition, the Commonwealth is making a minor change to their Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) method of distribution that only constitutes an amendment in 2015 and 2016, not requiring additional citizen participation.

 The proposed amendments are:

 2014—Addition of competitively funded projects for CDBG, HOME and ESG

 2015—Addition of competitively funded projects for CDBG, HOME and ESG, changes in the method of distribution for NSP

 2016—Addition of competitively funded projects for ESG, change in the method of distribution for NSP

 The proposed Substantial Amendment includes:

 2015—

 a. Increase Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency's (Agency) HOME award to no more than 50% of the Commonwealth's total 2015 HOME allocation. This will bring the total allocation to the Agency to no more than $6,857,254. This allows for additional allocations to their multi-family rental program that allows the Commonwealth to meet its commitment deadline.

 b. Open the eligible applicants to allow all of the Commonwealth's HOME participating jurisdictions to the Agency's apply for funding under the State program, including PennHOMES program, following set parameters. Refer to Substantial Amendment for more detail.

 2016—In addition to the two items listed under 2015 Substantial Amendment, the following changes are being made:

 a. Eliminate the previous requirement of demonstration of Targeting, Leveraging and Impact for all projects applying for HOME directly though the Department. The Department will encourage that these priorities are still achieved, although it is no longer a principle requirement for funding.

 b. The Department will prioritize awards to applicants focused on a set of activities. See Substantial Amendment for further details.

 c. Increase maximum allowable HOME Program awards to those rental projects (new construction or rehabilitation, or both) of less than ten total units that do not exceed the maximum current year HOME per subsidy limits.

 d. Initiate, through a set aside of not more than $2 million the Department's Pilot Initiative to address rehabilitation needs of residential property deferred by local Weatherization Programs due to substandard property conditions. Four weatherization agencies have been targeted and identified for this Pilot Initiative—Lawrence County Community Action Program, Schuylkill County Community Action Program, SEDA-COG and Central Pennsylvania Community Action Program.

 The Substantial Amendment to the Action Plans and supporting documentation are available for a 30-day public comment period and can be viewed on the Department's web site at http://dced.pa.gov/. The text is available to sight and hearing-impaired persons using technological assisted devices on the Department's web site at the previously listed link. A translation into Spanish will also be available on the Department's web site for citizen comment. The final version of the Substantial Amendment will be submitted to HUD no later than August 14, 2017. The amendments do not require additional citizen comment and will be approved with the submission of the plan to HUD. For the 2014 Action Plan amendment, this will be by September 1, 2017.

 Persons who would like to provide written comment on the draft amendments or the Substantial Amendment to the 2015 and 2016 Action Plans may e-mail comments to RA-DCEDcdbg&homequestions@pa.gov or mail to the attention of Megan Snyder, Department of Community and Economic Development, Center for Compliance Monitoring and Training, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Comments must be received before 4 p.m. on August 1, 2017.

Public Meeting

 The public meeting for the Substantial Amendments will be conducted electronically in conjunction with the public hearing for the 2017 Annual Action Plan by means of the Internet on Thursday, July 27, 2017. Access to the discussion on the Internet will occur between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. This more widely available computer access will replace the onsite public meeting. The format will be more accessible than an in person meeting because those who wish to make comment or discuss policy may participate directly from a electronic device or from a computer located at a public library.

 Any individual or organization may give testimony or comments by means of the Internet about the proposed changes to the HOME method of distribution for 2015 and 2016 funding. The Commonwealth encourages public participation in this process.

 Individuals who wish to participate must register in advance. Contact Megan L. Snyder at (717) 720-7404 to receive registration instructions for the Internet based meeting at least 24 hours prior to the meeting date. During the meeting, if support is required, call (717) 787-5327. The meeting will be shortened if there is no one to testify or there is minimal response.

 Persons with a disability or limited English proficiency who wish to participate in the public meeting should contact Megan L. Snyder, Department of Community and Economic Development, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225, (717) 720-7404 or TDD at (717) 346-0308 to discuss how the Department can accommodate their needs.

Written Comments

 Written testimony, instead of Internet testimony, must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2017. Persons who would like to provide written comment on the draft Substantial Amendment to the 2015 or the 2016 Action Plan may e-mail comments to RA-DCEDcdbg&homequestions@pa.gov or mail to the attention of Megan L. Snyder, Department of Community and Economic Development, Center for Community Financing, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Written testimony or comments on the amendments may be taken at the same mailbox at any time.

DENNIS M. DAVIN, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 17-1080. Filed for public inspection June 30, 2017, 9:00 a.m.]


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