The Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency’s Neighborhood Investment Committee voted unanimously to renew Community-Based Development Organization (CBDO) certification for GIAC Inc. and Historic Ithaca at its July meeting after staff verified both organizations meet the program’s eligibility criteria.

Anissa, the staff presenter, explained the CBDO designation allows certain economic-development-style job-placement activities to be funded without counting against CDBG public-service caps, but the designation requires that at least 51% of an applicant’s board qualify under HUD categories (for example low-to-moderate-income residents, neighborhood organization representatives, or business/institution leaders serving Ithaca). She told the committee GIAC’s certification review raised a board-composition question after the group added a new member and the qualifying ratio moved to 50 percent; staff confirmed that Christine (Chris) Sharp, the Common Council liaison to GIAC’s board, is a voting member and therefore counts toward the 51% requirement.

Anissa said, “they have the same decision making power as the other board members. So ... I believe that they meet the the basic qualifications.” The committee then voted to recommend GIAC’s hospitality employment program for CBDO designation.

On Historic Ithaca, staff reported the organization meets the criteria but noted its current board members largely qualify under the same category (leaders of businesses or institutions serving Ithaca) rather than a mix that includes neighborhood representatives or LMI residents. Staff said Historic Ithaca’s recently appointed executive director plans recruitment to broaden board diversity, but that the organization nonetheless meets statutory requirements for recertification.

Finger Lakes Reuse was removed from the packet for action because the organization lost a board member who qualified as a low-to-moderate-income (LMI) resident in June. Staff said Finger Lakes Reuse’s board meets quarterly, that recruiting a qualifying replacement could take two meetings, and that staff will meet with the organization’s COO, Robin Elliott, to discuss options before bringing a recertification forward.

Committee members moved and seconded the recommended renewals for GIAC Inc. and Historic Ithaca and approved both renewals unanimously. No contracts were executed at the meeting; staff emphasized that the agency cannot execute CDBG-funded contracts for CBDOs until the certification is in place.

The record shows staff reviewed each applicant’s self-certifications and board lists, protected sensitive personal data (home addresses) in materials provided to the committee, and confirmed how different board roles (residency, institution leader, neighborhood group representative) count toward the 51% qualifying ratio.