Community Development director: city awarded $276,000 in CDBG funds; transit and home-repair figures detailed

Community Development Director Matt Snow gave an update on department activity since January 1 and reported program figures and near-term plans.

Key figures cited: the city was awarded $276,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the 2026 program year; the city’s business revolving loan fund has issued $140,000 in 0% loans to local businesses; the city allocated $6,000 to a Salvation Army partnership assisting unhoused individuals (with $3,500 distributed to assist 15 people so far); eight home-repair projects are complete and nine are under contract (projects average about $10,000 each, with over 80% of applicants elderly); BG Transit received $432,000 in 5311 rural transit funding and expects to provide about 25,000 rides in the program year, with roughly 40% of riders elderly or disabled. Micro grants drew 15 applications requesting about $58,000; the city awarded the available $15,000 to six projects. The city’s local home repair program uses $100,000 in general funds to assist residents up to 350% of the federal poverty level and is expected to begin within the next month or two.

Snow said the city’s annual action plan is available on the city website for public comment through June 8. He invited questions but none were raised at the meeting.

Next steps: staff will proceed with program implementation and finalize year-end numbers, and the action plan remains open for public comment through the posted deadline.