Canton council advances HUD 2025 action plan authorizing roughly $3.4 million for CDBG, HOME and ESG programs

Canton City Council reviewed and moved forward on its 2025 HUD action plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs.

City staff and the director of community development explained that the plan, which must align with HUD's program calendar, will authorize the administration to advertise, receive bids, award contracts and execute grant agreements. The clerk and finance committee representatives noted the combined programs total about $3.4 million in planned expenditures for the coming program year.

Council members said the city had less carryover money this year than in prior years and emphasized the importance of completing the plan before HUD's program start on July 1. Council referred the ordinance to the finance committee for review earlier in the evening and later adopted the enabling ordinance (number 28) after committee consideration.

The vote: Ordinance 28, which ratifies filing the plan and authorizes contracting authority to implement the 2025 action plan, passed on roll-call vote. Staff said the allocations were selected through an RFP process and recommended the council approve the plan so partners could receive funding on the July 1 program calendar.

What happens next: The mayor and director of public service are authorized to execute grant agreements and enter contracts necessary to spend the funds in compliance with HUD rules; staff will return with specific contract awards as procurement completes.