By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
LINCOLN PARK — City officials are preparing to award more than $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to eligible projects designed to improve quality of life issues.
Emergency Manager Brad Coulter said a portion of the available funds will go to community or nonprofit groups.
“The public service part will be about $100,000 that might go to fight blight or improve public safety,” Coulter said. “We’ll be evaluating the proposals.”
A public hearing will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 1335 Southfield Road, during which officials will review eligible projects and clarify the allocation of CDBG funds, awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, for 2015-2016.
According to a notice from Mayor Thomas Karnes, Lincoln Park anticipates receiving $701,683 in CDBG funds, of which $561,366 is available for eligible projects. Some funding, Karnes said, will be available for allocation in the Rehabilitation Loan Program as approved in 2011’s five-year consolidated plan.
Projects must meet certain requirements for CDBG fund eligibility, including being beneficial to residents with low or moderate incomes, prevent or eliminate blight, or address a community need of particular urgency.
Coulter said qualifying road projects will be considered during Monday’s hearing, although street repairs are limited with the comparatively modest amounts.
Coulter said CDBG funds available to local groups to improve neighborhoods can play a critical role in improving the city’s quality of life, especially along business corridors and along Fort Street, which has recently benefitted with the Lincoln Park Lofts opening and approved plans for a Sav-A-Lot store.
The public is invited to provide input on community needs, preferences and priorities that might benefit from CDBG funding. For more information contact City Hall at 313-386-1800.
(James Mitchell can be reached at jmitchell@bewickpublications.com.)