Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the CDBG topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Groton schedules public hearings as staff moves to use CDBG program income to strengthen 2026 grant application
Summary
Council set public hearings to update the CDBG program income reuse plan and to advance a potential $2.5 million CDBG application; staff said using program income as matching funds would improve competitiveness but DOH will set final awards.
The Groton Town Council scheduled required public hearings and approved motions to enable a 2026 application for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and an update to the program income reuse plan.
John Reiner explained the town has accumulated program income from prior CDBG housing rehabilitation loans but has had trouble deploying those dollars because of staffing and consultant shortages needed to administer loans. He said the state requires municipalities to update reuse plans if program income will be applied to new activities and is asking towns to spend down excess balances before applying for new rounds.
Councilors discussed that using up to $250,000 of program income as matching funds could increase the town's competitiveness for up to $2.5 million in CDBG funding for projects such as the Groton Heights School adaptive reuse and revitalization. Reiner cautioned that the Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) will make final decisions on award amounts and may treat program income as part of the $2.5 million total.
Council set public hearings for July 28 and authorized the town manager to execute application documents following those hearings; the scheduling motions carried in the special meeting roll calls (7–0). Staff emphasized these are preliminary procedural steps; specific uses of program income and project details will be developed and subject to public comment and DOH review.
