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Legislative Ltr CDBG Pro December 7,2006 Name and address Dear Name: We need your help in ensuring continued funding of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. We urge you to support $3.877 billion in formula funding for FY 07 to support the CDBG program. Communities in Iowa, and across the country, cannot continue to sustain cuts to the program. CDBG has served communities for over 30 years as a resource to help cities, counties, and States meet their community development, affordable housing, and economic development needs. In the City of Dubuque, CDBG funds numerous programs that assist low and moderate income persons. Last year alone, CDBG funds assisted 56 owner-occupied residential housing units with rehabilitation, rehabbed 12 rental units, helped 7 first time homeowners to buy a home and removed lead paint from 9 housing units. Over 6000 people received services funded with CDBG, including recreation programs, vocational training for at-risk youth, group therapy for the mentally ill, summer reading programs, and programs for the elderly. Neighborhood and community development programs provided for a variety of neighborhood services and improvements, sidewalk and accessible curb ramps, neighborhood parks, historic preservation and neighborhood support grants. In FY 2002, the City received an entitlement of $1 ,489,000. Five years later, this has been reduced by 16% to $1,256,479, a reduction of $232,521. With continued reductions of the program, we will no longer be able to fund the same level of services and programs. Fewer low and moderate-income citizens will be assisted. These cuts directly affect the local economy, as they translate into reduced private investment that is fueled by CDBG funding. In short, the CDBG program is an effective Federal domestic program which allows Dubuque to revitalize our community with proven results. . We ask you to support Iowa's communities by supporting the CDBG program in FY07 by providing a funding level of $3.877 billion in formula funding for the program. Please feel free to call me with any questions. Sincerely, Michael C. Van Milligen City Manager MCVM:at " The Honorable Charles Grassley U,S, Senate 135 Senate Hart Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Tom Harkin U,S, Senate 731 Senate Hart Building Washington, DC 20510 Congressman Jim Nussle 303 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-1502 Congressman-elect Bruce Braley P,O, Box 390 Waterloo, IA 50704 . " COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK CiRANT (CDBCi) CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA The City of Dubuque has been a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement city since the initiation of the HUD program in 1974. In the City of Dubuque, CDBG funds numerous programs that assist low and moderate income persons. The Administration continues to propose reductions of CDBG funding. CDBG has been a critical component in providing assistance to our low- and moderate-income population. In FY 2006 (July 2005 thru June 2006), CDBG funds in the City of Dubuque assisted: y 7 first time homeowners to purchase a home y 56 owners rehabbed their homes y 12 residential housing units were rehabbed y 9 housing units were made lead safe y Over 6000 people received services funded with CDBG, including: Recreation programs Family educational involvement programs - Transportation for the mentally ill Multicultural services Programs for the elderly Y Neighborhood and community development programs provided: Neighborhood services and improvements Sidewalk and accessible curb ramps Improvements in neighborhood parks Historic preservation Neighborhood support grants. Dubuque's CDBG funding has been once again reduced. In FY 2006, the City received a 6% reduction in funding from $1,481,000 to $1,398,731 (-$82,269).ln FY 2007 (July 2006 thru June 2007), we received an additional 10% reduction to $1,256,479 (-$142,252). -~----_._.- - - r--;City of D~bUqUeCDBG A1locatio~ I i 1.500,0001 1,450,000i 1 ,400,000 1 ,350,000 1,300,000 1,250,000 1,200,000 L' 1,150,000 1,100,000 FY02 FY03 FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07 Continued formula funding is needed at levels that reflect the very real community development and affordable housing needs that exist in our community.