Lake County holds public hearing on HUD FY2025 CDBG and HOME proposed projects

The Lake County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing Feb. 25, 2025, to gather public comment on proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME projects for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) fiscal year 2025. The board said it had not made a final decision and accepted written comments through 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, 2025.

The hearing is part of the consolidated planning and annual action plan process guided by HUD regulations at 24 CFR 91 and the county’s adopted citizen participation plan, county staff said. Ria Benton, assistant director of the Lake County Planning and Community Development Office, and Christian Blake, community development assistant, were identified as staff available to answer questions; the county provided an email contact for written comments: david.radachy@lakecountyohio.gov.

Jim Levine, board chair of Forbes House and a member of Leadership Lake County and the United Way cabinet, spoke at the hearing and described services the nonprofit provides to survivors of domestic violence. “I just want to stress the importance of the CDBG grants for Forbes House in particular,” Levine said. He told commissioners that, in the previous year, Forbes House sheltered 173 survivors, including 71 children, and provided support to about 540 additional people. Levine said the organization is seeking CDBG funds for a new roof and to fix a water issue by sloping terrain away from the building to protect a recently renovated shelter.

The board also read a written comment from Robert Dawson, chairman of the Perry Township trustees, thanking the commissioners for an award of 2025 CDBG funds to construct an Americans with Disabilities Act–accessible ramp at the Perry Historical Society and Museum. The written comment said the project had been on the township’s radar for years but had lacked funding.

County officials emphasized that the hearing was for public input and that the commissioners would consider both written and verbal comments before deciding on the proposed projects and funding levels. The board opened and then adjourned the public hearing without taking formal action on the proposals during the session.

Written comments were directed to David Radachy, director, Lake County Planning and Community Development Office, 105 Main Street, Painesville, Ohio 44077, or by email at david.radachy@lakecountyohio.gov; the county set a deadline of 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, 2025, for receipt of additional comments.