By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The application for a 2016 CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) for Nephi has been completed.
The Nephi City Council received an update on the application process from Randy McKnight, city administrator.
"We have participated in the CDBG program for multiple years," said McKnight. "The application has evolved into an online process."
In the past, the CDBG money received by the city has gone to benefit the low- and moderate-income families in the community with housing rehabilitation such as putting new shingles on roofs and repairing or replacing heating systems and weather proofing homes and other similar projects.
"We did that for many years, he said.
This year, said McKnight, the CDBG board had determined that the city had received its allotment of funding for that purpose. The city, therefore, decided to apply for funding to update city buildings to meet the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements.
"We have applied to make the city hall restrooms ADA compliant," said McKnight. "We will also make the city hall counter compliant."
At the police department, a concrete ramp into the building will be constructed to meet ADA standards, he said.
At city hall, the front entrance door to the building needs to be ADA compliant. The front door consists of two parts, an outer entrance coupled with an inner entrance about three back from the entrance door. Both sets of doors need to be compliant.
At the city airport, said McKnight, the main door and a ramp need to be constructed to meet compliance requirements of the ADA. Those are on the main, or office, building.
The State of Utah Community Development Block Grant program provides grants to cities of fewer than 50,000 people and counties of fewer than 200,000.
The CDBG program is authorized under Title 1 of the Housing & Community Development Act of 1974, as amended (HCDA). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is responsible for monitoring the state of Utah to ensure compliance with CDBG program requirements.
Applicants should be aware that, if funded, they must comply with various federal regulations including Davis-Bacon Labor standards and the environmental regulations found at 24 CFR Part 58.
The purpose of the small cities program is "to assist in developing viable communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate incomes."
McKnight said that the city attended the workshop required and also held the necessary public hearings.
The annual "How to Apply" workshops are held throughout the state in October and November. These workshops provide information about the amount of funding that is available in each of the seven regions in the state, eligible projects and the application process.
"Applicants must attend one of these workshops in order to be eligible to apply," he said.
The 2016 program year is the 35th year that the Governor of the State of Utah elected to administer the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, the purpose of which is:
Projects are also reviewed for compliance with the regionally prepared Consolidated Plan. Traditionally, the majority of CDBG funds in Southwestern Utah have been allocated to "brick and mortar" projects such as fire stations, culinary water systems, wastewater systems, etc.
A portion of the allocation has also been used on projects intended to eliminate architectural barriers which limit access by disabled persons, payment of sewer connection fees, be used as leverage for other housing funding for affordable housing projects undertaken by local housing authorities and community housing development organizations, and provide technical planning assistance.
"The prioritization of projects is made by local elected officials who are best suited to determine local needs and priorities," said Mark Jones, Nephi City mayor.
"The goals of the CDBG are to assist in developing viable urban communities by providing decent housing, suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income."
The three "National Objectives" are: low and moderate income (LMI) benefit; aiding in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight; and urgent health and welfare compliance.
