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Elkhart council approves $773,450 Community Development Block Grant action plan, 8–1
Summary
The City of Elkhart common council voted 8–1 to approve resolution 26-R-13 authorizing submission of a Community Development Block Grant action plan that allocates about $773,450 for housing, neighborhood improvements, public services and small-business microloans.
The Common Council of the City of Elkhart voted 8–1 to adopt resolution 26‑R‑13 authorizing the mayor to submit the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) second annual action plan for program year 26, which begins July 1.
Mary Kask, assistant director of community development, told the council the city anticipates receiving $744,001 in formula CDBG funds; with program income and some reappropriations the total available in the plan is $773,450. “The most significant goal will be in housing supply and housing quality,” Kask said, listing an allocation of $428,650 to housing programs and noting other line items for planning, public services and neighborhood improvements.
Kask said 20% of the allocation is set aside for planning and administration, 15% is the public-service cap, and the plan proposes $60,000 for neighborhood facilities and improvements (sidewalks, curbs, alleys), $21,000 for homeless services, and $40,000 targeted at increasing household income through small-business microloans. She also described a recent use of funds to support infrastructure (about $235,000) for a Habitat for Humanity subdivision called Legacy Park, which she said will support roughly 22 affordable homes.
During questioning Councilman Henke objected to some recipient choices and asked for more measurable reporting. “Habitat is not on here. Guidance Ministries are not on here,” Henke said, and asked whether organizations that already receive other city support should get additional CDBG funds. Kask responded that subrecipients must report beneficiaries through the IDIS public reporting system and that much of the funding flows directly to homebuyers; she said a formal program-year-25 report will be brought to the council in September.
The council debated the plan and opened the item to public comment; seeing none, Melody (the clerk) called a roll. The vote was recorded as eight ayes and one no (Henke). The resolution authorizes the mayor to submit the CDBG action plan and the city will seek the federal allocation and finalize subrecipient agreements after the award is received (typically in September).
