Cheyenne opens public hearing on 2025–27 consolidated plan; HUD CDBG allocation $416,112

City of Cheyenne staff opened a public hearing June 23 on the city’s draft 2025–27 consolidated plan and the 2025 annual action plan, which guide use of federal Community Development Block Grant funds. Amy Gorby, community development manager for the city’s Housing and Community Development Division, told the council the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the plans and that Cheyenne received a HUD allocation of $416,112 for program year 2025 plus $298,580 in repurposed CDBG funds available through a supplemental mini-grant cycle.

The consolidated plan sets three-year priorities and targets staff say are intended to help low- and moderate-income residents. Gorby said the plan aims to preserve and improve low-income neighborhoods and assist more than 9,600 residents; make public facility improvements targeted to transitional and senior housing and shelters (a target of about 132 households); expand public services (utility assistance, health care access, meals for low-income seniors) for nearly 2,000 people; and support job training and digital literacy for roughly 500 residents through local partners.

The 2025 annual action plan lists specific proposed uses for 2025 funding: $250,000 for Safe Routes to School improvements at Alta Vista Elementary (crosswalks and lighting), $60,000 for sidewalk improvements at Community Action of Laramie County’s Smith Manor transitional housing, $20,000 each for public-service grants to HealthWorks, Meals on Wheels and Safe House, and support for local job training programs (Climb Wyoming Cheyenne and L-3/ACES digital literacy). Gorby said the supplemental $298,580 will open as a rolling grant cycle in mid-to-late summer and will be allocated until the funds are expended.

Gorby described outreach and needs assessment methods used to draft the plan — public surveys, consultations with local agencies and nonprofits, and data analysis — and said the draft plan is open for public comment through July 8; staff plan to submit the consolidated plan and annual action plan to HUD by July 15, after which HUD has up to 45 days to review. Dan Dorsch, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Laramie County, spoke in support during public comment and cited past CDBG-funded work at the organization’s ReStore.

Discussion by council members included a question about coordination between listed job-training providers and the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services; Gorby said L-3/ACES coordinates with local workforce partners and she will confirm details. Councilmembers also asked how the base allocation and repurposed funds relate; Gorby confirmed the $298,580 will be distributed through a supplemental grant cycle separate from the main 2025 allocations. No formal council vote was recorded at the hearing; the item was a public hearing to receive comment as part of the HUD-required process.

Pending council action to finalize the plans for submission, HUD review and approval would enable CDBG funds to be allocated by early September and require ongoing monitoring and annual reporting for compliance.