Background:

The City of Evansville, Indiana’s federal Consolidated Plan details the funding strategy for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and HOME Investment Partnership Program for the period from 2015 through 2019. The Annual Action Plan details each year within the 5-year Consolidated Plan and outlines the implementation of annual funding, which is developed through significant public input, analyses, and planning.

The City’s Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) describes the efforts that the City will take to encourage its residents to participate in developing these plans. It also provides requirements for public process when a “substantial amendment” to the Annual Action Plan is proposed. The following changes constitute a substantial amendment and require public notice as described in the CPP:

• addition or deletion of an activity
• a change in location, scope, or beneficiary of an activity
• an increase or decrease in program funds of at least 20% for any activity whose total allocation is $100,000 or more

However, due to COVID-19, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued guidance that waives the Citizen Participation Plan requirements for entitlement recipients, provided that (1) no fewer than five days are provided for public comment and that (2) reasonable notice and the opportunity to comment is provided.

Additionally, HUD has awarded supplemental funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) that requires programming in the 2019 Annual Action Plan.

Proposed Substantial Amendments:

The City is proposing the following amendment to the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan in order to add eligible activities that may not have been previously identified: (See attached CDBG-CV budget)

The City is proposing the following amendment to the 2019 Annual Action Plan in order to allocate and program supplemental funding established by the CARES Act. (See attached CDBG-CV Budget.)

The City is proposing the following amendment to the 2019 Annual Action Plan: Extend the timeframe of the Arts District Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA) through 06/30/2021 to provide loans to small businesses located in the Arts District NRSA that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Analysis:

This proposal qualifies as a substantial amendment because it meets all three criteria:

• addition or deletion of an activity
• a change in location, scope, or beneficiary of an activity
• an increase or decrease in program funds of at least 20% for any activity whose total allocation is $100,000 or more

• Programming $1,592,787 in CDBG funding made available by the CARES Act.

Public Process:

The City is providing notice of a five-day public comment period as part of the HUD public participation exemption process. Additionally, one public hearing will be held to provide opportunities for public comment:

• Monday, 5/11/20 – City Council consideration of Substantial Amendment adoption, 12:00 pm, Virtual Meeting, which can be found here: Old National Events Plaza’s Facebook Live feed: com/oldnationaleventsplaza/videos

• (Please review Council Meeting agenda when available to confirm item number) You can also view the documents on our website. Comments may also be provided to (Kolbi Jackson) by email (kkjackson@evansville.in.gov), phone (812-436-7808), or in writing addressed to: Department of Metropolitan Development, 306 Civic Center Complex, 1 NW MLK Jr. Blvd. Evansville, IN 47708.

Copy of F-2020-07 CDBG COVID-19 Spreadsheet draft 05.05.20.xlsx
Copy of F-2020-07 CDBG-CV.xlsx