By RODNEY L. SHERMAN
Clarion News editor
Strattanville Borough Council members hoped to attend a county meeting regarding Community Development Block Grants after expressing frustration about the program.
“We don’t know what qualifies and what doesn’t qualify,” said council member Jon Stants. “I’m confused.”
Each year Clarion County receives funding from the Community Development Block Grant program and allocates at least 82 percent to municipalities for projects.
The CDBG program has three national objectives: to benefit low- to moderate-income households; remove slums or blight; and for urgent needs which may cause an immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community.
The grant money must be used for specific projects; such as water and sewer line replacement and improvements, construction of affordable housing, recreational facilities, street improvement and several other services available to the public.
For a municipality or municipal authority to be eligible, at least 51 percent of the people residing in the area are LMI. Also, 70 percent of the project funds must benefit LMI.
To determine LMI eligibility, an income survey is conducted. Some municipalities have found their residents don’t respond to the survey, resulting in the municipality not being awarded CDBG funds.
But Strattanville council members have been stymied the past several years when they applied for, or attempted to apply for, CDBG funding from the county.
The county conducted an Aug. 9 preliminary CDBG meeting and any municipality planning on applying for a grant was required to attend.
Strattanville Borough Secretary Roxanne Davis said the borough did not have to specifically identify a project at that meeting, but had to attend to be considered for a later application.
“I hate to say this, but I think it would be a waste of your time,” said council member John Reed. “I’ve been there three or four time and never got anywhere.”
Referring to a newspaper report, Stants said Oil City received CDBG money to pay off a fire truck.
“We really need a generator at the fire hall but we never get funding for that,” said Stants. “I just don’t understand how it can used one thing in one county but not in this county. I don’t think we’re getting the up and up on this.”
Clarion County is receiving $238,318 in CDBG funding this year, $14,439 more than last year. After the 18 percent allocated to administration, about $196,000 is left for projects.
Clarion County Commissioner Ed Heasley said municipalities and municipal authorities have to start preparing six months to a year prior to applying for a grant.
Strattanville Borough Council agreed to seek funding for a generator for the fire hall, a designated public shelter in cases of emergency.