New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The City of New Bedford Department of Housing & Community Development will hold two public meetings to discuss the best use of federal funding to improve the quality of life for New Bedford residents. The public meetings will be held:
- Wednesday, January 8th at 6:00pm at Carney Academy Elementary School, 247 Elm Street, and;
- Thursday, January 9th at 6:00pm at the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD), 608 Pleasant Street in the second floor conference room
These meetings are held to obtain feedback from New Bedford residents on how these federal funds are best utilized to address needs and priorities in the areas of housing, public facilities, public infrastructure, parks and playgrounds, community services, homelessness resources, and economic development. Input from the community is integral in shaping the priorities of these federal programs.
The City of New Bedford anticipates receiving about $2.4 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to serve low-and-moderate-income residents and neighborhoods in Fiscal Year 2014 which runs from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.
Mayor Jon Mitchell encouraged city residents to attend one of the upcoming meetings and share their views on the 2014 CDBG funding, “The feedback gathered from community members at these public meetings will help us to determine where the next round of federal funds should be allocated to most effectively address New Bedford’s housing, economic, infrastructure, and community needs.”
The January 8th and 9th meetings will review the City’s recent Housing and Community Development accomplishments and will focus on the Annual Action Plan as well as the Request for Proposals Process by which the City’s Community Development Block Grant and Emergency Solutions Grant funding is distributed. The Action Plan is submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and details how the Fiscal Year 2014 funding will be allocated.
OHCD staff will conduct a short presentation on the background and purpose of these federal funds. The meetings are a good opportunity for citizens to voice their opinions about how the City can best use its federal money to improve the quality of life in New Bedford and to suggest specific additions or improvements to facilities and services in our neighborhoods. The Office of Housing and Community Development will also host technical assistance workshop on Friday, January 10th at 9:00 am to offer guidance regarding the application process at its offices at 608 Pleasant Street, 2nd floor conference room.
Questions regarding the public meetings, the Consolidated Plan or the Action Plan may be directed to Joseph Maia, OHCD Community Development Coordinator at (508) 979-1500 or by email at jose.maia@newbedford-ma.gov.
