Lycoming County approves CDBG administration contract, selects $589,460 in 2025 projects

Lycoming County commissioners approved a professional administrative services agreement with CITICOG for administration of the county's Community Development Block Grant program and recommended $589,460 in project funding for 2025 across the county and three boroughs.

The recommended 2025 grant total covers projects in Montgomery Borough, a Route 54 sewer lateral connection with the West Branch Regional Authority, administration fees, and projects in Jersey Shore Borough, Coal Township/Burg (listed in the record as "Contoursville Borough"), and South Williamsport. County staff said the total for the county and the three boroughs is $589,460; recommended administration fees for the projects total $99,300 and do not include separate labor standards or environmental review costs.

A county staff member presented the item, saying, "Services have not changed. If anything, DCD just requires more all the time." The staff member described the program's review criteria as eligibility, fundability, timeliness, financial need, fair share and attendance at public hearings.

Per the staff presentation, recommended 2025 project funding items included: - Montgomery Borough: Park Loop Rehabilitation (amount listed in the record as $193,067.70); administration by COG included. - Route 54 sewer lateral connections with the West Branch Regional Authority: $36,600. - County administration item listed as $46,500. - Jersey Shore Borough: Meadow Alley Road reconstruction: $78,001.57; COG administration $16,500 (total listed $94,006.57). - "Contoursville Borough": curb cut program (phase 6) $84,018; COG administration $16,900 (total listed $100,918). - South Williamsport: slum/blight area project $97,007.15; administration listed $19,400 (total listed $117,115).

The staff member clarified that a slum/blight project can cover demolition of blighted structures or street improvements in an area designated as blighted under CDBG national objectives. "One of the national objectives you can meet with CDBG funds is the elimination of slum and blight," the staff member said, explaining that a borough would identify a block meeting the definition of blight and then use funds for eligible activities.

Commissioners moved and approved the administrative agreement and the recommended project selections by voice vote (recorded as "all ayes"). The agenda had earlier included an item to remove a separate CDBG project-selection vote that had appeared with a different dollar figure; county staff explained that amendment before proceeding with the presentation and the motions.

The board's approval authorizes staff to proceed with the recommended 2025 projects and with CITICOG administration; staff said labor standards enforcement and environmental review costs are tracked separately and are not included in the $99,300 administration total.

The county's next scheduled public commissioners meeting is listed in the record as Aug. 28, 2025.