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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 allevi...
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