Subject:
Title
Public Hearing, Re: Substantial Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Action Plan to Add Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) Funds
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Fiscal Impact:
There is no impact to the General Fund. $848,028 in Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) related funds have been allocated to Brevard County.
Dept/Office:
Housing and Human Services
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners (1) hear and consider input from the public regarding the Substantial Amendment, (2) approve the Substantial Amendment, (3) authorize the County Manager to endorse all related documents for submission to HUD, (4) authorize the County Manager to execute all related contracts, amendments, and modifications upon approvals of Risk Management and the County Attorney’s Office, and (5) authorize the County Manager to approve all necessary budget change requests.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. Among its provisions is an additional $5 billion in funding under the Community Development Block Grant program. In order for the County to obtain access to allocated funds there must be an identified and approved activity in the 2019-2020 Brevard County Consolidated Action Plan.
The current plan does not include any activities that can be utilized for the prevention, preparation, or response to the coronavirus. This Substantial Amendment (SA) adds a Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) activity which will allow for the use of these funds while maintaining compliance with federal rules and regulations. Utilizing the currently available guidance from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), this broad SA has been created to be as responsive and flexible as possible. Examples for the uses of CDBG-CV funds are below and attached:
Buildings and Improvements, including Public Facilities
• Acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or installation of public works, facilities, and site or other improvements
• Rehabilitation of buildings and improvements (including interim assistance)
Assistance to Business, including Special Economic Development Assistance
• Provision of assistance to private, for-profit entities, when appropriate to carry out an economic development project
• Provision of assistance to microenterprise
Provision of New or Quantifiably Increased Public Services
• Provision of Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)
• Provision of Mortgage Assistance
Planning, Capacity Building, and Technical Assistance
• Data gathering, studies, analysis, and preparation of plans and the identification of actions that will implement such plans
Due to the nature of the funding that is available through CDBG-CV and changing local needs, it is possible that not all of these services and/or other services (not listed) will be utilized to address the prevention, preparation, or response to the coronavirus in Brevard County.
The Public Comment period for this Substantial Amendment was advertised on the County's website on April 30, 2020 and ended on May 4, 2020. Normally the Public Comment Period would be thirty-days, but the CARES Act included a waiver which reduced the Public Comment Period to five days.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
None