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Resolution of the County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, expressing Allegheny County's unwavering support of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and recognize the program's significant and unparalleled impact upon the communities in this County; and, further, calling upon the United States Senate and House of Representatives to retain the existing program at a funding level of $4.735 billion, allowing cities and counties to continue addressing unique affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization needs.
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WHEREAS, President George W. Bush has proposed an initiative entitled “Strengthening America's Communities” for the Fiscal Year 2006 Budget that would consolidate eighteen existing grant programs administered by seven federal agencies into one program under the Department of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, the eighteen existing federal programs provide $5.31 billion through grant, loan, and tax incentive programs for community and economic development efforts, but the proposed replacement program would allocate only $3.71 billion, a reduction of thirty percent in federal funding that is available to low-income communities; and
WHEREAS, the consolidated grant-making program is being proposed because of findings by the Office of Management and Budget that programs had unclear long-term objectives, were not focused on long-term community outcomes, did not coordinate effectively, overlapped in mission and function, and provided continued funding to communities no longer in need; and, further, found that none of the programs were able to demonstrate that they achieved long-term goals; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny County's program has a long-term objective of developing viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income; and
WHEREAS, communities in Allegheny County rely heavily upon programs that function to alleviate blight in the communities, make public buildings accessible to all residents of the community, provide funds for infrastructure needs that our municipality would otherwise be unable to do, and allow elected officials to conduct planning that will transition their neighborhoods to a more diverse, broad-based, 21st century economy; and
WHEREAS, communities in Allegheny have consistently exhibited the need for assistance; in the most recent funding round, the County received 513 proposals for $49.9 million in requests; in addition, the County consistently sets aside a portion of its CDBG funding for distressed Act 47 communities for projects which benefit low and moderate income residents; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny County has demonstrated consistently that long-term goals have been met and exceeded; in Fiscal Year 2005, 26% of CDBG funds will be used for housing, counseling, and special population needs; 28% will go toward public infrastructure needs; and 17% will be used for commercial/industrial infrastructure rehabilitation that will foster economic development opportunities throughout Allegheny County; and
WHEREAS, specifically, the Office of Management and Budget found that the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program was created to serve distressed communities, but 38% of the funds go to communities and states with less poverty than the national average; in Allegheny County, an average of 85% of CDBG funds go to or benefit low to moderate income residents of the County; and
WHEREAS, in Allegheny County, the Community Development Block Grant Program funds a myriad of social service, economic development, and housing programs in this community that has resulted in the development of a strong network of relationships between this local government, the County's residents, and the many non-profit agencies that provide services and help make possible our commitment to those neighborhoods;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby resolves as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Allegheny County Council and Chief Executive express our unwavering support of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and recognize the program's significant and unparalleled impact upon the communities in this County.
SECTION 2.
The Allegheny County Council and Chief Executive call upon the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives to retain the existing CDBG program and to provide it with a funding level of $4.735 billion, empowering cities and counties in this country to continue addressing unique affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization needs.
SECTION 3.
The Council of Allegheny County further resolves that this Resolution be provided to the President and members of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate who represent Allegheny County as an expression of this County's desire to retain the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program in its existing form.
SECTION 4. If any provision of this Resolution shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Resolution which shall be in full force and effect.
SECTION 5. Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Resolution is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Resolution.