Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cdbg Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Defiance officials hear CDBG plan to use $150,000 allocation on park improvements; waterline upgrade pursued for larger grant
Summary
At a public hearing, Mommy Valley Planning Organization outlined using the city's $150,000 CDBG allocation for Veterans Memorial/Latty's Grove Park improvements and pursuing an RPI grant (up to $750,000) for a nearly $1.9 million Wayne Avenue waterline replacement; council heard timelines and outstanding income surveys.
Sie Blair, representing Mommy Valley Planning Organization, told the Defiance City Council on May 12 that the city has a guaranteed $150,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation for program year 2026 and officials expect to use that allocation for improvements at Veterans Memorial/Latty's Grove Park.
"This year is the city's allocation year. What that means is that you have a guaranteed $150,000 coming to the city," Blair said during a public hearing on the grant program. She described the park improvements as the primary candidate to take the full allocation rather than splitting the funds among two projects.
Blair also described a second, larger project under consideration: the Wayne Avenue waterline replacement from Second Street to Downs Street, with a total cost she said is "just under 1.9 million". That project could be submitted as a Residential Public Infrastructure (RPI) grant application; the RPI program provides up to $750,000 in grant funds but is competitive and awarded statewide.
Blair explained the eligibility requirements, noting projects must meet a national objective—most commonly benefiting low- to moderate-income residents. "The park is in a census area that does qualify," she said. For Wayne Avenue, staff are finishing an income survey to determine whether that census area qualifies; Blair said about seven income surveys had been returned so far, short of the roughly 30–40 responses needed for a final determination. She described a fallback option that would allow the city to limit CDBG-funded work to the qualifying census area if the full street project does not qualify.
Important dates discussed included the allocation grant submission, due to the state on June 10, and the RPI pre-application cycle, which Blair said accepts pre-applications beginning June 1 with full applications opening July 1 on an open cycle. Council members asked about whether surveys had been mailed and about residential versus commercial eligibility; Blair confirmed the income survey targets residents and that multiple mailings had been sent.
After questions, several council members thanked Mommy Valley Planning staff for their work. The city will proceed with the allocation submission and continue the RPI preparation while completing the income-survey documentation.
