Public Notice and Notice of Public Hearing – City of Talent CDBG SBMA

Note: this public hearing is for the same funding opportunity as previously posted on June 12. The original posting can be found here.

Public Notice and Notice of Public Hearing

The City of Talent is eligible to apply for a 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Business Oregon. Community Development Block Grant funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grants can be used for public facilities and housing improvements, primarily for persons with low and moderate incomes.

Approximately $12 million will be awarded to Oregon non-metropolitan cities and counties in 2020. The maximum grant that a city or county can receive is $150,000 for the 2020 Emergency Small Businesses and Micro-Enterprise Grant Assistance Program (SBMA). The City of Talent is preparing a joint application for a 2020 CDBG SBMA grant from the Business Oregon with jurisdictions the cities of Phoenix and Jackson County (unincorporated areas only) for 2020 COVID-related Emergency Small Business Assistance. It is estimated that the proposed project will benefit at least 50 persons, of whom 100% will be low or moderate income.

Additionally, it is anticipated that up to $18 million in CARES Act funding will be awarded to Oregon non-metropolitan cities and counties in 2020, 40% of which will be designated to the CDBG small business support program. The City of Talent intends to apply for the maximum grant amount allowed under this forthcoming CARES Act funding.  It is estimated that any projects under this program will benefit small businesses and/or persons, of whom 100% will be low or moderate income.

A public hearing to discuss the proposal will be held Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 6:45 pm. To comply with Governor Brown’s stay at home order, in-person testimony will not be allowed at public hearings. The purpose of this hearing is for the City to obtain citizen views and to respond to questions and comments about: community development and housing needs, especially the needs of low- and moderate-income persons, as well as other needs in the community that might be assisted with a Community Development Block Grant project; and the proposed project.

LIVE COMMENTS may be facilitated by joining the live, online web session.

Access by web:  https://zoom.us/j/669903215 , password 957228

Access by phone: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID 669 903 215

WRITTEN COMMENTS will be accepted for five (5) calendar days from Friday, July 10. All written comments must be received prior to the meeting time. Written comments can be emailed to grants@soredi.org or mailed to Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI), 1311 Barnett Rd., Suite 301, Medford, OR  97504. Both oral and written comments will be considered by the City in deciding whether to apply.

Comments and responses received will be posted on the SOREDI website on July 16, 2020. The City of Talent does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its federally assisted programs or activities.

The location of the hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities. Please contact the City of Talent by phone at 541-535-1566 if you will need any special accommodations to attend or participate in the meeting. More information about Oregon Community Development Block Grants, the proposed project, and records about the city’s past use of Community Development Block Grant funds is available for public review at Talent City Hall during regular office hours. Advance notice is requested. If special accommodations are needed, please notify the City of Talent at (541) 535-1566 so that appropriate assistance can be provided.

Permanent involuntary displacement of persons or businesses is not anticipated as a result from the proposed project. If displacement becomes necessary, alternatives will be examined to minimize the displacement and provide required/reasonable benefits to those displaced. Any low- and moderate-income housing that is demolished or converted to another use will be replaced.