MERIDEN -- About 30 nonprofits are vying for a share of the $220,000 available under the city's nearly $928,000 Community Development Block Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
But while the city finalizes the 2025 Community Action Plan for this year's money, officials are raising questions about what they might get next year given the cuts at the federal level.
"We conduct outreach with residents and community stakeholders to determine priorities," City Economic Development Director Joseph Feest said at a recent meeting. "This is our 51st annual action plan. We want to confirm the activities we are funding are appropriate."
The action plan also sets aside $186,000 for administration, about $90,000 for public facilities and infrastructure, about $334,000 for housing programs and code enforcement and $98,000 for loan repayment.
Requests from nonprofits to get grants for the $220,000 set aside for agencies that help the poor and underserved communities ranged from under $10,000 to $50,000.
Some proposals included after-school programs at the Boys & Girls Club, a 10-week youth enrichment program for Change the Play Inc. and a bilingual psychiatrist at the Community Guidance Center of Central Connecticut, formerly the Child Guidance Center. Other applicants included the Meriden Soup Kitchen, Ball Headz, the Franciscan Life Center and Beat the Street.
Feest and consultant Eric Chatham of Civitas LLC recently presented the proposal at a public hearing before the Human Services Committee. The public comment continues through July 18 and goes before the full City Council. The final plan is submitted to HUD in August.
After 51 years in the entitlement program, Meriden's funding allotment is calculated on a formula, which benefits the city, Feest said.
Chatham presented a market survey and needs assessment last month that showed the city's poverty rate increased and other information, including steep increases in the cost of housing.
The survey found that much of the city's housing stock was built between 1950 and 1979, and the second highest cohort was built before 1950. The aging housing stock requires renovations and neighborhood improvement through the Neighborhood Preservation Program, which officials said has been challenging due to cumbersome HUD guidelines on small value projects.
"There is so much construction now, it's hard to find contractors to do the small jobs," Feest said, adding that requirements such as high insurance coverage can be difficult for smaller contractors.
Other municipalities have shared the same concerns and regional councils of governments have lobbied Congress to ease its regulations, said Rick Dunne of the Naugatuck Valley Regional Council of Governments.
But any requests for program changes are likely moot.
Chatham informed committee members the Trump administration and HUD secretary have eliminated funding in the latest federal budget. As a result, HUD tabled any proposed changes to the Neighborhood Preservation Program and others.
According to the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment officials, the president's budget proposes cuts to housing and community development programs and the creation of a State Rental Assistance Block Grant.
The proposed budget would make a series of changes to community development programs, according to NAHRO. The HOME Investment Partnerships and CDBG programs are proposed to be eliminated. The budget would additionally consolidate the Continuum of Care program and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS into a more targeted Emergency Solutions Grant program. Funding for individuals would be capped at two years.
Additionally, the proposed State Rental Assistance Block Grant would combine funding for public housing, Section 8 tenant-based and project-based rental assistance, housing for the elderly, and housing for persons with disabilities into one block grant to the states -- and cut the total funding to the program by more than $26.7 billion overall.
The proposed grant program would also place a two-year cap on rental assistance for able-bodied adults and would eliminate funding for self-sufficiency programs, according to NAHRO.
The city did not seek funding for the Neighborhood Preservation Program this year because Feest set aside a pool of funds to secure contractors to complete repairs. Chatham advised the city to take a year to consider other programs.
Among other uses, the funds can be used to acquire and refurbish property, public facilities improvements, public services, economic development, as long as they primarily benefit low- and moderate-income individuals.
The city is also developing its 2025-2029 Consolidated Action Plan to study and review long term goals to improve planning, housing improvements, public and social services, parks and recreation, economic development, public health, public safety and other community development activities.
The 30-day public comment period runs through July 18, and the proposed plan will be available online at www.meridenct.gov, and at the Community Development Office.Written comments may be submitted to the Community Development Department at the address above or by email at: jfeest@meridenct.gov.
A public meeting is also scheduled for July 21 to allow the City Council to act on the four-year and the annual plans. The final plans will be sent to HUD in August.