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City staff outline 2025 CDBG plan funding priorities; public hearing held
Summary
Olympia staff presented the draft Program Year 2025 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan, proposing awards to home‑repair programs, supportive housing services, micro‑business training and other public services; the council opened and closed the required public hearing and will consider plan adoption on July 8.
City staff presented the draft Program Year 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan during a public hearing on June 17, describing proposed subrecipient awards and the 30‑day public comment timeline ahead of a council decision in July.
Anastasia Everett (recorded as Anastasia Everich), the city’s senior housing program specialist in Community Planning and Economic Development, told council that Olympia is an entitlement community that receives an annual CDBG formula award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She summarized federal eligibility and national objective requirements and explained that the city’s three‑year certification requires at least 70% of CDBG funding over three program years to meet low‑ and moderate‑income objectives.
Staff proposed using the program year 2025 allocation (which staff described as slightly lower than previous years) to prioritize preservation and creation of affordable housing and housing‑related public services. Recommended subrecipient awards in the draft plan include: Rebuilding Together Thurston County — $60,000 for 5–8 home rehabilitations; South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity — $40,000 for 3–5 home rehabilitations and a heat pump installation activity; Enterprise for Equity — micro‑business development training for over 40 low/moderate‑income entrepreneurs; Interfaith Works — daytime resource center services (serving hygiene and access to medical/behavioral services); Mercy Housing Northwest — resident services at Evergreen Vista (multifamily property with low/moderate income residents); Senior Services for South Sound — HomeShare program matching seniors with home seekers (average rent cited at $636 per month); and Together’s Host Homes program to support unaccompanied youth (projected 28–36 youth served).
Everett said the draft plan includes a 20% administrative cap and contingency projects to which program income could be routed if a funded project cancels or additional program income is received. Staff recommended routing program income to critical home repair and Energize Thurston activities with South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together Thurston County, depending on subrecipient spend‑down and need documentation.
The council opened a public hearing and heard in‑person testimony from nonprofits and entrepreneurs: Beth Henriques (Enterprise for Equity), Sophie Landis (Enterprise for Equity graduate and local business owner), Brian Windrop (executive director, Senior Services for South Sound), and Vanessa Hurst (Together, Host Homes program director) spoke in support of the recommended awards and described program impacts and outcomes. No formal council vote on the plan occurred at the hearing; staff said the public comment period runs through June 30 and the council will consider adoption of the Annual Action Plan on July 8. Staff also noted HUD review timelines if the council adopts the plan.
