Notices: Economic Development & Affordable Housing

PUBLIC NOTICE

CITY OF CLEARWATER, FL

NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY

STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES PARTNERSHIP (SHIP)PROGRAM FOR FY 2024-2025

The City of Clearwater anticipates receiving $902,203 for fiscal year 2024-2025 funding distributed by Florida Housing Finance Corporation through and operated under the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program. Eligible strategies are purchase assistance for newly constructed and existing homes, owner occupied rehabilitation, multi-family housing and other activities included in its Local Housing Assistance Plan. A copy of the Local Housing Assistance Plan is available from the contact person identified below or via the City’s website www.myclearwater.com/affordablehousing.

These funds will primarily be used to assist eligible homebuyers in the purchase of homes within the city limits of Clearwater. For current homeowners, rehabilitation assistance may be provided to assist with code deficiencies within their dwellings. For disabled households, financial assistance may be provided for modifications to remove barriers and make housing accessible.

Applications for funded strategies will be made available between August 5, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Preference will be given to persons with special needs as defined in Florida Statute 420.0004(13).

Assistance is available to households whose maximum income is at or below 120% of Area Median Income.  Priority will be given to households at 80% or below Area Median Income.

For further information, contact Ms. Terry Malcolm-Smith at 727-444-7176 or via email at terry.malcolm-smith@myclearwater.com; or in person at the City of Clearwater Economic Development & Housing Department located at 509 S. East Avenue, Suite 227, Clearwater, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

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Public Notices

CITY OF CLEARWATER

PROPOSED PROGRAM YEAR 2024 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

30-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD & PUBLIC HEARINGS

The City of Clearwater is hereby publishing the proposed Annual Action Plan (AAP) for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 to allocate federal funding from the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The AAP identifies projects and activities to be implemented by the City during FY 2024, which begins on October 1, 2024, and ends on September 30, 2025. In addition to the entitlement grant, funding allocations also include anticipated program income generated by the City’s Revolving Loan Fund as well as prior-year (i.e., carryover) resources from projects that were either cancelled or completed under budget to be applied toward new projects. CDBG funds are used to provide decent housing, suitable living environments, and economic opportunities to principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons. HOME funds are used to foster private sector partnerships with for-profit and non-profit organizations to develop affordable housing.

The City of Clearwater anticipates an estimated $940,482 in new CDBG funds, $1,310,415 in CDBG program income, and $367,097 in prior-year CDBG resources. The City also anticipates an estimated $400,222 in new HOME funds, $1,706,038 in HOME program income, and $2,791,413 in prior-year HOME resources. These funds will be programmed to eligible activities under these grant programs.

The list below captures all proposed projects to be funded with CDBG and HOME resources in FY 2024. Funding for these and other projects are estimated resources only and funding amounts may increase or decrease based upon actual program income, prior-year adjustments, and/or final federal funding allocations. Due to these and other factors, the City of Clearwater reserves the right to add or delete projects and/or adjust funding allocations proportionally.

ESTIMATED RESOURCES

Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) – Entitlement, $940,482
CDBG - Program Income, $1,310,415
CDBG - Prior-Year Resources, $367,097
HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) – Entitlement, $400,222
HOME - Program Income, $1,706,038
HOME - Prior-Year Resources, $2,791,413
TOTAL, $7,515,667

PROPOSED PROJECTS

Program Administration

CDBG (from Entitlement), $188,096
CDBG (from Program Income), $15,130
HOME (from Entitlement), $40,022
HOME (from Program Income), $17,200

Housing

Creation and Preservation of Rental Housing, $3,583,244
Creation and Preservation of Owner-Occupied Housing, $1,526,595 
Home Purchase Assistance/Loan Processing, $500,000
Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA), $321,400
Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Set-Aside, $144,268

Homelessness

H.E.P. (Family Transition Program Renovation Project), $140,500
Metropolitan Ministries (NeighborHOPE North Greenwood Program), $47,024
WestCare GulfCoast-Florida (A Turning Point Case Manager and LPN Salary Support), $47,024
H.E.P. (HEP Kitchen and Dining Hall Renovation), $85,000
St. Vincent de Paul CARES (Returning Home-Clearwater Rapid Rehousing Program), $47,024

Non-Homeless Special Needs

Learning Independence for Tomorrow (LiFT Academy Playground for Neurodivergent Children), $110,330

Community Development & Public Services

Willa Carson Health and Wellness Center (Clinic Rehabilitation), $112,250
Property Acquisition & Demolition – Elimination of Slum & Blight, $100,000

Economic Development

Prospera (Technical Assistance for LMI Hispanic Businesses), $30,000
WeeCare dba Upwards (BOOST Program), $50,000
Façade Improvement Loan-to-Grant Projects, $410,560
TOTAL, $7,515,667

The public comment period begins on June 9, 2024, and ends on July 8, 2024. Please send any comments to Chuck Lane, Assistant Director, City of Clearwater Economic Development and Housing Department, P.O. Box 4748, Clearwater, FL 33758-4748 or via telephone at (727) 444-7489 or via email at Charles.Lane@myclearwater.com before 5:00 p.m. on July 8, 2024.

A draft copy of the proposed City of Clearwater FY 2024 Annual Action Plan will be available for public comment beginning June 9, 2024, on the City’s website at https://www.myclearwater.com/My-Government/City-Departments/Economic-Development/Guiding-Documents-Plans-and-Reports.

Hard copies will be available at the following locations for review during the public comment period:

Clearwater Main Library
100 N. Osceola Ave.
Clearwater, FL 33755

City of Clearwater Economic Development & Housing Department
509 S. East Avenue, Suit 227
Clearwater, FL 33756

City of Clearwater
City Clerk's Office
600 Cleveland Street, Suite 600
Clearwater, FL 33755

Additionally, the City of Clearwater will hold two public hearings to receive comments on the FY 2024 Annual Action Plan prior to submittal to HUD. Both public hearings will be held in City Council Chambers in the Main Library located at 100 N. Osceola Ave., Clearwater, FL, 33755. The first public hearing will be a meeting of the Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board (NAHAB) to be held on July 9, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. This notice was originally published on June 5, 2024, and June 12, 2024, and is being republished to change the date of the second public hearing. The second public hearing will be a meeting of the Clearwater City Council now to be held on August 1, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations to effectively participate in these meetings are asked to contact the City Clerk at (727) 444-7151 or rosemarie.call@myclearwater.com in advance.

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