City staff opened an initial public hearing Dec. 8 to gather input for Chester’s fiscal year 2026 Annual Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds, outlined program priorities and timelines, and set an application deadline of Dec. 19, 2025, at 2 p.m.

The hearing facilitator, identified in the transcript only as the hearing facilitator, said the city has not yet received final notices of HUD allocations and is working with estimated figures for budgeting: “For CDBG, $1,225,000. For HOME, $335,000,” the facilitator said. Staff said those estimates will be used for draft budgeting until HUD notifies the city of final amounts.

The hearing described the consolidated-plan priorities that will guide use of federal funds: decent, safe and affordable housing; housing and supportive services for people who are homeless or at risk; services and facilities for people with special needs; improvements to community facilities and infrastructure; and efforts to encourage employment and economic opportunity. The facilitator listed eligible CDBG activities including infrastructure (roads, curbs, sidewalks, ADA ramps), public facilities, parks and recreation, public services, demolition, property acquisition, removal of architectural barriers, code enforcement, housing rehabilitation, economic development, and administration/planning. HOME-eligible uses were listed as homeownership assistance (such as down-payment and closing-cost assistance), housing rehabilitation for rental or sale, and new construction of affordable housing.

Applications are available from the Chester Economic Development Authority (CEDA) by email at jar@ceda.cc, by phone at (610) 447-7854, and on the city website (www.chestercity.com) and CEDA’s website (www.ceda.cc). The facilitator said applications will be reviewed for eligibility and fundability; a summary of requests will be provided to city council, which is scheduled to authorize CEDA to prepare the draft action plan at the council meeting on Jan. 14, 2026. The draft action plan will be advertised and placed on public display from Feb. 2 through Mar. 6, 2026, and a public hearing on the draft is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2026 at 9 a.m. in City Council Chambers; that hearing will be livestreamed on the city’s website.

During public comment, Annette Piat, executive director of the Chester Community Improvement Project, thanked the city and said CCIP intends to apply for the pre-purchase housing counseling program and to construct new homes on the city’s West Side. “I look forward to submitting an application for your pre purchase housing counseling program,” Piat said.

The facilitator closed the hearing by urging broader outreach to potential new applicants and reminding attendees of the Dec. 19, 2025, 2 p.m. application deadline. No formal votes or funding decisions were made at the hearing; staff will use the public input and the estimated allocation figures to prepare a draft action plan for council review and a subsequent public comment period.

Next steps: submit applications to CEDA by Dec. 19, 2025 at 2 p.m.; city council consideration on Jan. 14, 2026; public display Feb. 2–Mar. 6, 2026; draft hearing Feb. 18, 2026 at 9 a.m.