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.