COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PUBLIC SERVICE GRANTS MOUNT VERNON URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY JULY 2017
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Service Grants The City of Mount Vernon, Urban Renewal Agency, is seeking applications from qualified non-profit organizations interested in providing services that address one or more of the public service needs targeted in the city s CDBG program. For Fiscal Year 2017, the City has been allocated 1,435,516 in Community Development Block Grant program funding of which a maximum of 15% can be allocated to Public Service Activities. The proposed allocation would include a maximum of 215,327.40 (15%) for Public Service grants. Pre-Application Workshops Applicants are encouraged to participate in one of two Pre-Application workshops: Session I: Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at 10:30am Mount Vernon City Hall Session II: Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at 6:30pm Mount Vernon City Hall CDBG National Objectives The primary objective of the CDBG program is the development of viable urban communities by providing decent housing and sustainable living environments and expanding economic opportunities particularly for low-and-moderate-income individuals. Applications for CDBG funding must meet one of the following HUD national objectives. A proposal that fails to meet one of these objectives is ineligible. 1. Directly benefit low-and moderate-income persons 2. Aid in the prevention or elimination of slum or blight 3. Meet an urgent need. Eligible Public Services Public services are social service activities in the community that benefit low-to moderate-income citizens. Targeted public service activities include, but are not limited to: After school/child care Code Enforcement Services Drug abuse counseling and treatment Education programs Fair housing activities Health care Job training/job creation Literacy Programs Public safety services Qualified Veteran Services Recreation programs Services for homeless persons Services for senior citizens Transportation/Transit Youth Services The completed application must address one or more of the targeted public service needs listed above and must serve primarily low to moderate income persons in the City of Mount Vernon. 1
Reporting: Agreements will include quarterly reporting requirements, and a process that will discuss the possible cancellation of the contract should Mount Vernon judge the sub-recipient does not have the capacity to meet the implementation timeline and is not demonstrating compliance with contractual obligations in a timely manner. Contractual Requirements: Each grantee selected to receive funds is required to sign a contract with the city. No costs incurred prior to the execution of an agreement with the city are reimbursable. Under CDBG laws and regulations, certain requirements must be met in order to negotiate an agreement. These requirements include the following: 1. Applicants must demonstrate that they are a nonprofit organization or a governmental agency. 2. After an application is approved for funding, a contract will be prepared and sent by the city to the identified by the applicant as the authorized official for signature. The contract will specify the amount of the award, the period for which the project is approved, the contract term and administrative provisions. Special conditions attached to the award will also be specified in the agreement. Grantees will be required to submit and file monthly reports on expenditures, performance progress and objectives. 3. Each agency receiving CDBG funding from the City is required to certify that it will conduct its business in compliance with the non-discrimination requirements of the City, State and Federal governments, as applicable. 4. In the event of non-compliance, the agreement may be terminated or suspended in whole or in part. 5. All recipients will be required to comply with the federal government s audit requirements as described in OMB Circular A-133 (for HUD s programs, these requirements are codified at 24 CFR Part 84.) 2
CDBG FUNDING APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS Fiscal Year: 2017 Program Year: September 1, 2017 June 30, 2018 APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications must be received at City Hall by Monday, July 17, 2017 at 4:00pm. Danielle Scholar Deputy Commissioner, Planning and Community Development Department of Planning & Community Development 1 Roosevelt Square Mount Vernon, NY 10550 Late Applications will not be accepted. Applications can be found on the Urban Renewal Agency s website: http://cmvny.com/departments/planning/urbanrenewalagency/ Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodations. Review Process: All applicants will be reviewed for completeness and compliance with federal and local plans for spending. Applications will be evaluated on the following: Consistency with the Consolidated Plan Benefit to low-and moderate-income City residents Benefit to CDBG target areas Activity need and justification Cost reasonableness and effectiveness Past performance, compliance and effectiveness Application Checklist: IRS non-profit determination letter Project Narrative maximum of 3 pages Proposed Timeline Proposed Project Costs Budget Roster of Board Members Certifications signed by authorized official 3
Fiscal Year 2017 CITY OF MOUNT VERNON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM Instructions for the Application for Funding For Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, the City has been allocated 1,435,516 in Community Development Block Grant program funding of which a maximum of 15% can be allocated to Public Service Activities. The proposed allocation would include a maximum of 215,327.40 (15%) for Public Service grants. IMPORTANT CHANGES 1. No allocation of CDBG funds will be made to a project of less than 15,000. 2. CDBG applicants are encouraged to participate in a pre-application workshop. 3. The Urban Renewal Agency will not accept late or incomplete applications. 4. At least 51 percent of beneficiaries/participants of programs/services must be City of Mount Vernon residents and verification records must be available for on-site monitoring. 5. No allocation of CDBG funds will be made to a project for which a CDBG application has not been received by the City. 6. All CDBG funds allocated to projects shall be used within 12 months of the date of the allocation, or such funds are subject to being reprogrammed by the URA. 7. An application for CDBG funds is not a guarantee of an allocation of CDBG funding. Allocation of CDBG funding is determined through the review of all accepted applications by the Urban Renewal Agency. 8. CDBG sub-recipient allocations are subject to change based on official Federal CDBG allocation to the City of Mount Vernon. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact CDBG staff at (914) 699-7230. Additional application information can be found at: http://cmvny.com/departments/planning/urbanrenewalagency/ Application Process Timeline: July 7, 2017 Application Packets Available July 11, 2017 Applicant Workshop (10:30am) Mount Vernon City Hall July 12, 2017 Applicant Workshop (6:30pm) Mount Vernon City Hall July 17, 2017 Application must be received at City Hall by 4:00pm July 21, 2017 Public Notice of Recommendations for FY 2017 CDBG allocations August 2017 Notification to Applicant regarding FY 2017 CDBG Allocations Completed applications must be received at City Hall by 4:00pm on Monday, July 17, 2017 4
Fiscal Year 2017 CITY OF MOUNT VERNON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM Application for Funding Project Category: (check one only) Public service Economic development 501(c)(3) EIN Number: Applicant Agency Information Applicant legal name: Contact Person: Contact Person Title: Mailing Address: Street Address (If different from mailing) : Phone: Email: Website URL: Type of agency: 501(c)(3) Gov t./public For Profit Faith-Based Other: Date of incorporation: Tax ID number: Agency DUNS number: Annual operating budget: Number of paid staff: Number of volunteers: Public Services Type: Check the applicable priority areas that project addresses. After school/child care Drug abuse counseling and treatment Fair housing activities Job training/job creation Public safety services Recreation programs Services for senior citizens Youth Services Code Enforcement Services Education programs Health care Literacy Programs Qualified Veteran Services Services for homeless persons Transportation/Transit Other (please describe) 5
Project Title City of Mount Vernon Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Services Funding Request Requested Amount: Other Funding Sources: Total Program cost: Percentage of City of Mount Vernon Funds Toward Program Cost: Project Narrative Complete a narrative that answers the following questions maximum of 3 pages. 1. Applicant organization description Please provide a short description of your organization including the date established, 501c3 status, size of membership, and its mission. If you are proposing a project that provides housing services, please specify if you are HUD certified. If this is a collaborative application for funding, which agency is the designated lead agency and why? 2. Need for the Project What community need will your project address? Describe the need and provide data that helps reviewers understand how much demand there is in the community for your project. 3. Target Population Description Identify the population to be served and/or the area to benefit. Indicate how you will identify participants and whether the project serves individuals or households. Describe the target population in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, income level, and other defining characteristics. Identify special needs groups to be served (abused children or spouses, elderly persons 62 years or older, disabled adults, illiterate adults, persons living with HIV/AIDS, or homeless). CDBG funding may be used for Mount Vernon residents only. Of the Mount Vernon residents served: What is the total number to be served? How did you arrive at this number? Of this total number to be served, how many people are low/mod income? Describe how your organization intends to document the income eligibility of participants. 4. Project description Provide a detailed description of the proposed project, its purpose, and its expected benefits as well as the following: List the goals and objectives of the project and identify which of the Consolidated Plan Goals are addressed Describe the work to be performed, including the activities to be undertaken or the services to be provided 6
How the project addresses the goals and objectives Method of approach Describe up to three outcomes of the project and how success will be measured Indicate whether the service is a new or expanded service 5. Coordination/Collaboration What other agencies has your organization consulted with or collaborated with to maximize resources and avoid duplication of services? How do you propose to coordinate your services with other community agencies and leverage resources? 6. Accessibility Identify where the project will take place, specify address(es) where possible. Describe the site where the program will be implemented. How will participants get to the facility? What efforts will your agency and partners make to promote your program and reach isolated individuals? Describe how the facility complies with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements regarding accessibility. 7. Past Performance and Funding If you have received CDBG funding from the City of Mount Vernon at any time in the past five (5) years, please specify the year(s) funds were received, the program(s) funded, the amount(s) of funding received, and outcomes achieved. 8. Budget Complete and submit the attached budget page (this page is not included in the 5 page maximum). Please see Appendix C. 7
Appendix A: Proposed Timeline: Project Start Date: Project Completion Date: Applicants must provide a schedule for the program that lists major activities and indicated when they will be executed. Program Schedule 1 st Quarter (September November) Major Program Activities: 2 nd Quarter (December February) 3 rd Quarter (March June) 8
Appendix B: Proposed Project Costs: Complete the budget form and attach to completed application or attach your prepared detailed budget Estimated Total Cost of Project CDBG Funding Amount Requested for Project Total Number of Units Served: Total Cost per Unit: Total CDBG Cost per Unit: Amount and Source of Other Funds Leveraged for Project: (Please submit proof of other funding sources) Source Year Amount Projected Sustainability: How will your organization continue providing these services if CDBG funds are not awarded next year? If your project is not fully funded, will your organization be able to implement the project with partial funding? 9
Appendix C: Detailed Budget Complete the budget form and attach to completed application or attach your prepared detailed budget Specific Cost Item/Description CDBG Amount Requested Other Funds Source Other Funds Amount Total Amount CDBG + Other Sources Total 10
Appendix D: Roster of Board Members & Professions Provide a roster of the members of your agency s Board of Directors and their professions by filling out the table below. Government entities should attach information about any advisory boards that are used to provide input into program activities. Name / Board Position Profession / Affiliation Member of Target Population Resides in Target Area 11
Required Certifications for CDBG Public Services Activities Application Signature of Agency Representative with Binding Authority below certifies the following statements: Organization has no conflict of interests with City of Mount Vernon appointed or elected representatives and does not employ city appointed or elected representatives or their families. Organization will comply with federal requirements to be observed by organizations being funded with CDBG funds. All requirements are described in 24 CFR 570 (CDBG entitlement grants). Authorized official certifies that this CDBG Public Services application package has been reviewed and all information provided in this application and attachments are true and correct. Sufficient funds are available from non-cdbg sources to complete the project, as described, if CDBG funds are allocated to the applicant. Signature of Authorized Agency Representative Date Printed Name Title Organization 12