CDBG Funding support request
H&CD
Housing and Corrununity Development Department
1805 Central Avenue
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-3656
(563) 589-4239 office
(563) 589-4244 fax
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January 17, 2005
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Dubuque
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
RE: Support for Future CDSG Funding
Honorable Mayor and City Council:
The Community Development Advisory Commission requests the City Council's support for
continued federal funding for the Community Development Slock Grant (CDSG) program. Due
to recent and possible future appropriation cuts to this federal entitlement program, the
Commission requests this item be listed "as a priority for the upcoming legislative visits.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently informed the City that the
2005 CDSG entitlement is $1,398.731. This is a reduction of 5.6%, or $82,269 less that our
current year allocation of $1,481,000. All entitlement cities have received an approximate 5%
decrease due to overall funding reductions by Congress.
A recent article in the Washington Post on January 12, 2005, stated, "Community Development
Block Grants, funded this year at nearly $5 billion, could be cut by as much as 50%, aides said.
The Home Investment Partnerships Program, a housing program that was trimmed by 4% this
year, is expected to take a larger hit in the president's 2006 budget. Overall, housing programs
will be at best frozen, said Barbara Thompson, executive director of the National Council of
State Housing Agencies."
The CDSG program funds numerous programs for the City of Dubuque. Housing programs
provide low-interest loans for homeowners and rental properties for low and moderate-income
persons. Economic development programs provide funds for economic incentives that improve
the economic climate in our community, including low-interest loan packages to support local
economic development projects that will create or retain jobs. Neighborhood and community
development programs provide funds for a variety of neighborhood services and improvements,
recreation programs, sidewalk and handicap curb ramps, improvements in neighborhood parks,
historic preservation and neighborhood support grants.
The CDSG program provides great benefits for the residents of Dubuque, and the Commission
is concemed about the grave impact reductions to the program will have on Dubuque. The
Commission requests the delegation going to Washington, DC, on February 9-11, 2005, put the
continued funding of the CDBG program as a priority issue that will be presented in the annual
information sharing discussion with the Congressional Delegation.
Service
People
Integrity
Responsibility
Innovation
Teamwork
.
CDBG works and makes a real difference in peoples' lives. It is our sincere hope that this
effective program will be funded at levels that reflect the very real community development and
affordable housing needs that exist in our community.
RVtfUIIY submitted,
~h'i'" ,
Community Development Advisory Commission
Cc: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
David Harris, Housing and Community Development Director