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Committee told HUD funds are invited, state grant application deadline will likely require rapid site selection
Summary
City staff said a $1.2M HUD invitation requires environmental review before funds are available, while New Hampshire Housing's January application is a fixed deadline that typically requires construction to begin within about a year of award.
Staff told the Human Affairs Committee that the federal and state grant opportunities carry different timing and compliance demands that shape the project schedule.
Bobby Bagley said the city received a letter indicating availability of $1.2 million in congressional-directed HUD funds but that additional HUD steps remain. "Pending acceptance, there's still some other steps that we have to take for that," Bagley said, noting environmental review and other compliance steps are required before funds can be drawn down.
Jessica Connors, the housing services officer, laid out New Hampshire Housing expectations for the state grant: applications are due in January and winners are typically expected to begin construction within about a year of award. "If it's not completed within a year to a year and 0.5 and you have not started construction by that time, they can take the money back," Connors said, explaining the risk of missing the state timeline.
Committee members repeatedly asked whether staff could identify a shovel-ready site quickly enough for the January round. Matt Sullivan, the community development director, emphasized site selection is necessary to complete environmental review and some application components. "We need to know the site sooner rather than later," Sullivan said. Staff warned that, unless the board accelerates site selection and design work, the January application timeline is "very tight."
