Prescott Valley begins consolidated planning for CDBG funds as housing study finds affordability gap

Prescott Valley — Town staff and two consulting teams on April 3 briefed the Town Council on the Community Development Block Grant program and on a housing needs assessment that will feed the town’s first consolidated plan and annual action plan required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The town has contracted with TDA Consulting to complete its consolidated plan and expects to receive about $294,000 annually if and when HUD issues final allocations, Tracy Lerer, deputy director for Neighborhood Services, told the council. The consolidated plan (a five‑year strategic plan HUD requires of entitlement communities) will guide annual CDBG allocations and must include public outreach and a needs assessment, Lerer said.

Why it matters: CDBG dollars are flexible but restricted to activities that primarily benefit low and moderate‑income people or areas. The consolidated plan and the housing needs assessment will determine which projects — infrastructure, housing rehabilitation, public services under the 15% cap, or other eligible activities — the town can fund with a relatively modest allocation.

TDA Consulting’s Jennifer (last name not given) walked council through CDBG basics and the consolidated‑planning schedule: HUD decides the national appropriation, applies a formula to allocate funds, and then communities submit plans and annual action plans for HUD review.…