The Clarion County commissioners propose to submit an application for $447,925 in Community Block Development Grant funding for five municipalities.
Administered through the state Department of Community and Economic Development, the CDBG program provides federal funds to develop viable communities through the provision of modest housing and a suitable living environment.
Funds are also used to expand economic opportunities geared to low- and moderate-income individuals, and to improve infrastructure critical to community health and welfare.
Clarion Borough and Clarion Township are considered entitlement communities based on their population and low- to moderate-income levels.
For the non-entitlement municipalities, the county hopes to land $53,699 for Foxburg; $112,253 for Rimersburg; and $36,000 for Washington Township.
In Foxburg, the money would be used for road repairs along North Palmer Avenue.
In Rimersburg, the grant would be used for water line improvements along Monterey Road.
In Washington Township, the money would help pay for lateral sewer line installations.
In Clarion Borough, the CDBG funding would be used for reconstruction efforts along South Sixth Avenue.
The county would retain $68,415 of the total grants for administration costs.
The proposed projects were selected after three public meetings were conducted to identify needs in Clarion County (June 28), Clarion Borough (June 23) and Clarion Township (Aug. 9).
The commissioners are expected to vote on submitting the application at its Oct 12 meeting after final approval votes by Clarion Borough Council on Oct. 5 and Clarion Township on Oct. 11.
Citizens can examine the applications until Sept 17 at the respective offices of the county, borough and township and can offer public comment on the applications until Sept. 30.