City Hosts Public Hearing for CDBG Annual Action Plan

The City of Valdosta will host a public hearing on Thursday, March 24, to invite citizens to participate in a review of its Annual Action Plan, which provides information on proposed usage of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for FY2016. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Valdosta City Hall Annex Multi-Purpose Room, located at 300 N. Lee Street.

Every year, the city must complete this plan to outline the funding needs and priorities geared toward the low-moderate income populations residing within the city's Designated Revitalization Area (DRA).

Valdosta is scheduled to receive $576,889 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as its Entitlement funding allocation under the CDBG program. Each CDBG funded activity must meet one of the three national objectives, which are to provide a benefit to low-moderate income populations, to prevent or eliminate slum and blight, or meet an urgent community need that threatens the health or welfare of residents.

Since 2010, the Valdosta Mayor and City Council have dedicated the city's yearly allotments to accomplishing the goal of eliminating substandard housing by the year 2020.

The Annual Action Plan can be viewed at www.valdostacity.com/neighborhood-development, where citizens may also submit their comments online. After careful review, the city will submit the citizens' comments with the plan to HUD for approval.

Citizens have until Friday, May 11, at 5 p.m. to submit their written or online comments to the Neighborhood Development Division, located in the Valdosta City Hall Annex, Room 206. The Annual Action Plan is also available by request in an alternative format, such as oral interpretation and written translation services. Any questions or special accommodation requests should be directed to department staff at 229-671-3617.