By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
What would be a good project for Nephi in order to receive Community Development Black Grant (CDBG) monies?
That was the question asked by Nephi City council at a public hearing attended by just a handful of people from the community. That handful included three scouts there to complete requirements for a Citizenship in the Community merit badge.
However, those who missed the hearing may still suggest projects in writing for consideration by the city.
“The Community Development Block Grant provides federal funds, administered by the state of Utah to eligible local governments and organizations for projects that meet the goals of the federal community development program,” said Randy McKnight, city administrator.
The goals include the improvement of public facilities, the expanding of economic opportunities, the development and use of land resourcefully, the provision of decent housing, the provision of needed public services, the decrease of juvenile crime, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse and family violence.
In order to obtain funding, eligible projects must be identified in the region’s consolidated plan for capital improvements, McKnight said.
There is approximately $500,000 available in the Six County Association of Governments area for the 2008 project year.
The Six County Association of Governments (SCAOG) was organized in 1969 to provide services available through state and federal programs to the citizens of Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier and Wayne counties.
“The awards process is by competitive evaluation, based on the rating and ranking criteria established by the state under the federal requirements,” McKnight said.
Applicants must document that at least 51 percent of the beneficiaries of the project are persons of low and moderate income.
“Nephi city is not a community that qualifies as low and moderate income city-wide and will have to demonstrate that a project will serve persons of low and moderate income,” he said.
In matter of fact, Rocky Ridge is the only community in Juab County which does qualify. “It is the only community in Juab County that is pre-qualified.”
“I would like to suggest a number of projects,” said Blair Painter, city recorder. “We could put a food bank building, remodel the restrooms in the Old Gym and in city hall to make them accessible to the handicapped, put a bowery over the horse shoe pit and develop that area as a city park.”
He also suggested the housing rehab for low-income households might be added tot he list the city has in place.
The city has, previously, received such a grant and has helped some home owners who qualified under the ruling with needed projects to make homes livable. Such things as roofing, insulation and heating updates were awarded.
“Under the projects that we have listed,” said McKnight, “the remodeling of restrooms to accommodate the handicapped could be considered.”
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) provides U.S. federal funding for Community Action Agencies (CAAs) and other programs that seek to address poverty at the community level.
Like other block grants, CSBG funds are allocated to the states and other jurisdictions through a formula, with less federal oversight and fewer federal requirements than categorical grants.
The CSBG formula determines each jurisdiction’s funding level based on poverty population; once disbursed, most of the money is passed by the states and other jurisdictions to CAAs and other designated organizations to be spent on employment, education, income management, housing, nutrition, emergency services, and health.
Brent Bowles, council member, said he would like to have the city consider, as one project, survey an area of the community and make certain that it could qualify for curb and gutter.
