Columbus presents draft 2025–2029 consolidated plan and 2025 annual action plan, proposes $7.5M in CDBG and targeted HUD investments

Columbus officials presented the draft 2025–2029 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development consolidated plan and the draft 2025 annual action plan at a public hearing, outlining proposed projects and estimated budgets and accepting public comment ahead of council consideration.

"Thank you for joining us for this hearing on the city's 2025 through 2029 consolidated plan and the 2025 annual action plan," said Chair Bankston as the session opened. Lucy McMahon, grants management coordinator in the Department of Finance and Management, and staff from the Department of Development led the detailed presentations and answered questions.

The consolidated plan sets five-year priorities for federal HUD grant funding in Columbus; the annual action plan lists projects the city proposes to fund in 2025. Lucy McMahon said the grants management team conducted extensive outreach — 14 public meetings or community events and hundreds of survey responses — and combined that input with a needs assessment and market analysis to shape draft strategic goals.

Key proposed funding levels and program notes included: - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): an estimated city CDBG budget of about $7.5 million for 2025, with approximately $900,000 planned for city staffing and administration of HUD-funded programs. The grants team reported more than 60 external proposals totaling roughly $35 million in requests; the draft plan includes 15 external proposals prioritized from that pool. - HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME): an estimated HOME budget of $4,250,000 for 2025, to be used for rental…