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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDept./Commerce - Draft Plan MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF CO CONSOLIDATED PLAN ;- PO Box 200545 I Helena, MT 59620-0545 '! ,:; PdtJV 7 -QQ1 Date: November 5, 2001 I C I TY O F L I To: All Parties Interested in the State Consolidated Planning; Process Fm: Leslie ?gcomb Consolidated Plan Coordinator Re: Public Review of the Draft Annual Action Plan, April 1, 2002-March 31, 2003 The Montana Department of Commerce has prepared a draft copy of Montana's Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development. The Annual Action Plan is used to identify needs and allocate resources to Montana communities and residents for the plan year from April 1, 2002 through March 31, 2003. The plan also serves as the annual application to HUD forthe Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) and the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) Programs that brought over $12 million to Montana communities last year. 444-0092 4449774 444-2978 As part of a public participation process, meetings to gather comments, suggestions and ideas before preparation of the draft plan were held March 15, 2001 in Billings and May 18, 2001 in Bozeman. Numerous agencies, organizations and groups have participated in the preparation and presentation of the draft Annual Action Plan. The Consolidated Planning process is important for Montana communities. We encourage your active participation in the review of Montana's Annual Action Plan. Enclosed is an Executive Summary of the draft Annual Action Plan. The complete draft Plan and supporting documents are available on the Montana Department of Commerce, the Housing Division website at: hftp://commerce.state.mt.us/housing/index.htmi or the Consolidated Plan website at: hftp://commerce.state.mt.us/Housing/reports.htmI The draft Annual Action Plan is available in PDF format and may be downloaded. Most of Montana's Public Libraries now have Internet access. If you are unable to access the website, please call (406) 444-0092; TDD (406) 444-2978, and request a hard copy. . "Working Together to Make It Work" Three on-site Public Review Meetings and a MetNet Teleconference network meeting are scheduled in November and December 2001, with the public comment period in effect until December 31, 2001. A list of times and locations for the public review meetings is attached. Representatives of State and Local government, the business and nonprofit communities, community advocates, and other concerned citizens are invited to the meetings. Persons interested in presenting comments on the Plan may do so by appearing in person at a public meeting in Plentywood, Lewistown or Choteau, or attend one of the MetNet meetings to be held in eight locations across the State simultaneously. Written comments can be sent to Leslie Edgcomb, CP Coordinator, Housing Division, PO Box 200545, Helena, and MT 59620-0545 through December 31, 2001. Several documents were prepared in support of the Annual Action Plan. These documents are also available on the web sites previously listed. However, if you would like a hard copy, please call the Housing Division at (406) 444-0092, TDD (406) 444-2978, with a request. The documents include: ? Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing; Updated February 2000 (.PDF) ? Additional HMDA Analysis of Montana Denial Rates, 1993-1998 ? Economic Benefits of MDOC Housing Infrastructure and Economic Development updated December 2000 (.PDF) ? Montana Economic and Demographic Analysis; Updated September 2001 (.PDF) ? Montana Economic and Demographic Analysis; Technical Appendix September 2001 (.PDF) ? Housing Conditions Study; September 1999 (.PDF) For additional information on Montana's employment picture, see the Profile of the Montana Worker, August 2001, published by the Research & Analysis Bureau, Workforce Services Division, Montana Department of Labor & Industry. Copies can be obtained from the MDLI website: http://rad.dli.state.mt.us/ or by calling the Department at 406-444-2430, toll free within Montana at 800-633-0229, toll free outside of Montana at 800-541-3904, or TDD at 406-444-0532. LAConsolidated Plan\CP Yr ending 2003\Public Review Meetings\Letter to all interest in the CP.doc s EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Each year Montana submits an Action Plan illustrating how community planning and development resources will be utilized to improve communities throughout the State. The State's goals include: increasing the supply of decent, safe, affordable housing, especially for low and very low-income families and individuals; providing housing for special needs populations such as the elderly, disabled and homeless; and expanding economic opportunities in order to improve the living conditions for low and moderate income groups. The Action Plan is for the 12-month period beginning April 1, 2002. The Plan, developed with the input of citizens and community groups, serves four major functions: ¦ It is the State's application for funds available through the three, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) formula grant programs that are administered by the State of Montana: the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME), and the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) programs; ¦ It is the annual planning document, built upon thorough public input and participation, for CDBG, HOME, ESG, and other related Programs; ¦ It lays out the funding resources expected, the method of fund distribution and the actions the State will follow in administering HUD programs; and ¦ It provides accountability to citizens for the use of the funds and allows HUD to measure program performance. The Montana Department of Commerce (MDOC) administers the Community Development Block Grant program, the Home Investment Partnerships program and the Consolidated Plan. The Department of Health and Human Services administers the Emergency Shelter Grant Program. The State supports the Annual Action Plan with additional documents including the Montana Economic and Demographic Analysis, updated in September 2001. This document and other studies, evaluations, and previous Consolidated Plan reports, help individuals, communities, and organizations meet the three basic goals of the CDBG, HOME, and ESG programs, and provide useful information for the public and legislature. The Annual Action Plan provides details to citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties on the amount of assistance Montana expects to receive, the range of activities that may be undertaken, and the general program activities that may be planned in addressing the priority needs. Montana Department of Commerce DRAFT Annual Action Plan April 2002 CONSOLIDATED PLAN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS Updating the Consolidated Plan for housing and community development is an on-going process. Throughout this process, the State strives to improve the delivery of assistance to the people of Montana. The State supports policies and programs that support decent, safe, affordable housing, services for the homeless and other non-housing community development activities, such as infrastructure enhancemeilt, and economic development. The update process consists of several distinct steps, including: I v Interagency cooperation and coordination; r Advisory and policy formation functions; ? Consultation and outreach with concerned citizens and organizations; Public awareness of the citizen involvement process; and ? Delivery of program services. Interagency Cooperation and Coordination Members of the Consolidated Plan Steering Committee, with representatives from the HOME, CDBG, ESG and MBOH' programs and Fannie Mae's Montana Partnership Office met repeatedly throughout the plan development process to review the status of the Action Plan development. In addition, other agencies, such as the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services - Intergovernmental Human Services Bureau; the Montana Department of Labor and Industry - Human Rights Bureau were solicited for input on specific topics contained in. the Action Plan and supporting studies. Advisory and Policy Formation Functions Throughout the year, MDOC has interacted with other agencies and organizations with a commitment to better develop housing strategies. MDOC has, maintained its commitment to inform others of their responsibility to participate in the Consolidated Plan process and to promote affordable housing in local communities.' In recent years, MDOC has supported a broad-based "team" approach to address affordable housing issues through the formation of the CP Steering Committee, Housing Coordinating Team, and Housing Working Group. The MDOC has been a long-standing member of the Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste Action Coordinating Team (WzASACT), which was formed in 1982 to address infrastructure issues. These committees and groups continue to provide direction and input to the Consolidated Plan. Consultation and Outreach with Citizens and Organizations As part of the plan update, numerous outside agencies and individuals ',were contacted. Organizations and individuals are encouraged to provide statistics, data, and other information to aid in preparing the Action Plan and related studies. Montana Department of Commerce DRAFT Annual Action Plan April 2002 QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS IN SUPPORT OF THE PLAN Development of the Action Plan for Plan Year beginning April 1, 2002 is based in part, on current and past research studies and analysis of housing and infrastructure needs. One analysis conducted during the current planning cycle is the Economic and Demographic Analysis of Montana. Contact the Montana Department of Commerce, Housing Division, 836 :Front Street, Helena, MT 49602 for information on this and other publications. Visit the-Housing Division website at: hftp://commerce.state.mt.us/housing/index.html or the Consolidated Plan website at: hffp://commerce.state.mt.us/Housing/reports.htmI FEDERAL RESOURCES EXPECTED Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) The Community Development Division and the Business Resources Division of the Montana Department of Commerce administer the CDBG program. For Plan Year beginning April 1, 2002, the state estimates receiving $8,105,0001 in federal CDBG funds for award to local governments. Of these dollars, a portion will be allocated for economic development projects, which are administered by the Business Resources Division. Another portion will be allocated for public facility projects and housing projects, which are administered by the Community Development Division. Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) The HOME program, administered by the Housing Division, expects estimated funds of $4,520,0001 for Plan Year beginning April 1, 2002. Funds will be used for developing affordable housing for persons of low and very-low income. Emergency Shelter Grant Program (ESG) The I ntergovem mental Human Services Bureau of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) anticipates that $368,0001 will be made available for the ESG program. ' Federal CDBG, HOME and ESG budget allocations are not yet known for federal fiscal year 2002 (plan year April 1, 2002 - March 31, 2003). Montana Department of Commerce DRAFT Annual Action Plan April 2002 iii Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (LIHTC) The Montana Board of Housing administers the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. The Board receives authority to allocate the tax credit through the Internal Revenue Code. Annual estimated authority is $2 million. Montana Department of Commerce DRAFT Annual Action Plan April 2002 iv Montana's Annual Action Plan Public Review Meetings Plentywood November 26, 2001 7:00 - 8:30 PM Sheridan County Courthouse Bi-Centennial Room 100 West Laurel Lewistown November 27, 2001 7:00 - 8:30 PM Lewistown Public Library 701 West Main Choteau December 7, 2001 12:00 - 1:30 PM Teton Medical Center Hospital 915 4' St. NW METNET VIDEO CONFERENCE December 3, 2001 10:00 AM -12 NOON Helena Dept of Public Health & Human Services 111 N. Sanders, SRS Bldg, Auditorium (Host Site) Billings Montana State University - Billings i 1500 N. 30"' St., Spec. Ed. Bldg., Room 159 Bozeman Montana State University EPS Bldg., South 71h & Grant Burns Center, Room 126 Butte Montana Tech of UM 1300 W. Park St, Engineering Lab Classroom Bldg, Rm 231 Great Falls Great Falls College of Technology of MSU 210016 Ih Ave. S., Room R-182 Havre Northern Montana College - MSU 300 110" St. West Hagener Science Center, Room 202 Kalispell Flathead Valley Community College 777 Grandview Drive Learning Resource Center, Room 120 Miles City Miles City Community College 2715 Dickinson St., Room 106 Missoula University of Montana Arthur and Eddy St. Gallagher Building, Room 104 ?._, I L.._-.: - - f -OH © U GMT R4LLB ?,?? - .?,- - ?"'^. .. '- J am. ? ,? I 7..-1_ Jf• LEWIWOWNI_ w qwu L-I N ? 1 I Public Review Meetings ® MEfNET XCST SW NETNV M1Ymnl .3q f ? I JAI .?--•-..i?wsecln i ?