PUBLIC NOTICE

A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OF SHERMAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT 2008 ACTION PLAN TO ALLOCATE FUNDING UNDER THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT (ARRA) OF 2009

This notice is to inform interested persons of a proposed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 Substantial Amendment to the City of Sherman’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008.

The proposed amendment will allow the City of Sherman to apply and utilize $87,232 in Community Development Block Grant Recovery (CDBG-R) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The purpose of these funds is to maximize job creation and provide economic benefit to the residents of the City of Sherman.

Due to the immediate nature of this funding, the City has determined that the following project will accomplish the goals of the ARRA in providing jobs to local individuals and utility cost savings to help stabilize families within the City of Sherman. The project is a direct benefit to the citizens of this community.

OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING REHABILITATION/ WEATHERIZATION - $87,232
A program of specific housing repairs will be provided to extremely low, low and moderate income homeowners who reside within the city limits of Sherman. To help revitalize the community and create local jobs by providing attic insulation and ventilation to qualified owner-occupied homes to address air flow into the home. This will contribute toward making homes more energy efficient and will reduce utility cost to save families money in operating costs of their homes.

The City of Sherman seeks to improve housing conditions, neighborhood appearance, employment opportunities, and the overall quality of life for low and moderate-income citizens. No activities will be undertaken which cause involuntary displacement of persons.

Any citizen or agency interested in commenting on the Substantial Amendment to the City of Sherman Community Development Block Grant 2008 Action Plan is invited to submit written comments to Theresa Caudle, CD Coordinator, City of Sherman, P.O. Box 1106, Sherman, Texas 75091-1106. Written comments must be received prior to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27 2009. The Substantial Amendment to the City of Sherman Community Development Block Grant 2008 Action Plan must be submitted to HUD on Friday, June 5, 2009.

This notice was published in the Thursday, May 21, 2009 edition of The Herald Democrat, Sherman, TX.

SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT
To The City of Sherman Community Development Block Grant
2008 Action Plan to Allocate and use American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009

INTRODUCTION

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds will be made available through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. CDBG enables local governments to undertake a wide range of activities intended to create suitable living environments, provide decent affordable housing and create economic opportunities, primarily for persons of low and moderate income. Current guidance from HUD indicates the full range of CDBG eligible activities and projects may generally be funded; however, ARRA directs that grantees are to use these funds to maximize job creation and economic benefit. The ARRA has designated $87,232 through the City’s Community Development Block Grant line of credit. The City of Sherman will apply for these funds via the CDBG-R “Substantial Amendment” process to promote energy conservation through the Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program.

PROCESS

The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has directed grantees to apply for these funds by submitting a substantial amendment to their Annual Action Plan in accordance with CDBG Recovery Act (CDBG-R) Notice. Congress intends that these funds be used quickly. To expedite the process and to ensure that the CDBG-R grants are awarded in a timely manner, while preserving a reasonable citizen participation process, HUD is waiving the requirement that the grantee follow its citizen participation plan for this substantial amendment. HUD is shortening the minimum time for citizen comments to seven calendar days.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Publish notice of the Substantial Amendment to the 2008 Action Plan will be published on May 21, 2009 in the local newspaper of general circulating (The Herald Democrat), posted on the City of Sherman website and will be available to the public at easily accessible locations. These include the City of Sherman Public Library reference desk, 421 S. Travis Street, the City of Sherman Neighborhood Services, 405 N, Rusk Street, (903) 892-7227. The expedited comment period will close on May 27, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. for written comments.

(Reserved for Comments Received During Public Comment Period)

Due to the immediate nature of this funding, the City has determined that the following project will accomplish the goals of the ARRA by preserving jobs to local individuals and utility cost savings to help stabilize families within the City of Sherman. The project is a direct benefit to the citizens of this community.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

ACTIVITY 1. OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING REHABILITATION/ WEATHERIZATION

ALLOCATION: $87,232

STRATEGY: The City of Sherman will coordinate efforts with local residential insulation companies that will provide jobs to local individuals.The program will provide energy savings upgrades to City of Sherman households most impacted by the ression. We believe this housing program is important to making a direct contribution to the community economy.

DESCRIPTION: A program of specific housing repairs will be provided to extremely low, low and moderate income homeowners who reside within the city limits of Sherman, to make homes more energy efficient This activity will cause no displacement of extremely low, low and moderate income persons.

TARGET GROUP: Extremely low, low and moderate income homeowners, elderly homeowners, small and large family homeowners.

GOAL: A program to help revitalize the community and retain local jobs in the construction industry. The program will address air flow into the home by providing attic insulation and ventilation to 60 owner-occupied low and moderate income homes in the city limits of Sherman. The program will provide energy savings upgrades to City of Sherman households most impacted by the ression. Making homes more energy efficient will reduce utility cost to save families money in operating costs of their homes.

Community Development Block Grant

The City of Sherman’s Neighborhood Services Office administers the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Community Development Block Grant programs for residents of the City of Sherman.

This program is designed to provide assistance to low-moderate income homeowners in the City of Sherman. The assistance would be directed to those who need basic repair services to bring the home to a standard of health and safety. Services range from repairing rotten porches to updating deteriorated plumbing and electrical services.

The program can also address home-related health and safety issues for our low-moderate income citizens, such as building wheelchair ramps and handrails.

First-time Home Ownership Closing Costs Program

The City works with local mortgage lenders to provide a portion of the closing costs to low-moderate income homebuyers who are purchasing their first home located within the City of Sherman.

In the last two years, this program has helped 36 families purchase their first home.

• Must be first-time home buyer
• Home to be purchased is within the city limits of Sherman
• Income not to exceed limits provided by HUD

• Underwriting fee
• Survey
• Title policy
• Attorney / title fee
• Appraisal
• Closing fee
• Filing / courier / report
• Termite inspection

Ask your lender to contact the Neighborhood Services Office at (903) 892-7227 to see if you qualify for this program.

Other programs

The Community Development Block Grant also supports:

• Local public transportation provider (TAPS)
• City of Sherman’s Emergency Rx program
• Youth activities
• Local shelters for the homeless
• Local shelters for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

Please call (903) 892-7227 or contact the Neighborhood Service Coordinator for additional information.