Town Seeks Resident Input for Five-Year Community Development Block Grant Plan
Weymouth town officials will host two public forums to solicit input from residents for the five-year Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) plan. These meetings will take place as follows:
- November 6, 2019 - 6:00PM to 8:00PM, Council Chambers, Weymouth Town Hall, 75 Middle Street, Weymouth, MA
- December 12, 2019 – 9:00AM to 11:00AM, Mary McElroy Room, McCulloch Building, 182 Green Street, Weymouth, MA
The Community Development Block Grant program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Weymouth has been a recipient of CDBG funding as an entitlement community for 45 years. The funding is used to benefit low and moderate income residents in the areas of housing, community, and economic development.
Over the years, these funds have helped improve streets and water and sewer systems in low and moderate income “target areas,” supported public services such as those for senior citizens, provided income eligible households needing childcare subsidies, and provided services to the homeless. CDBG funds also have been used to improve public housing operated by the Weymouth Housing Authority and to provide zero interest, deferred payment loans for income qualified homeowners to repair their homes.
In the 2018-2019 grant period, the Town received $689,681 in CDBG funds from HUD. The Town allocated CDBG funds for public infrastructure improvements, such as for sidewalk improvements along King Avenue, located within one of Weymouth’s low and moderate income target areas, resulting in the construction of 1,300 feet of new sidewalk on the west side of King Avenue. The Town also provided CDBG funds in FY2018-2019 to NeighborWorks of Southern MA (NWSOMA), a non-profit Community Housing Development Organization, to support affordable rental units that house low and moderate income families in Weymouth.
As part of the CDBG program, entitlement communities must submit a Five-Year Consolidated Plan identifying the Town’s priority needs for affordable housing, public services, infrastructure improvements, and more. HUD requires that the town ensure that citizens are involved in identifying needs and planning for the use of CDBG funds, therefore Weymouth is beginning the citizen participation process for the upcoming Five-Year Plan (2020-2021 to 2024-2025). The Town will begin this process by holding two public meetings to solicit input from citizens on the priority needs.
“We encourage residents, particularly those utilizing our senior transportation services, housing rehab loan programs, case management services, or other CDBG-funded programs to attend the meetings and provide feedback.” said Mayor Hedlund. “The Five-Year Plan will give us an opportunity to address the greatest needs related to affordable housing, infrastructure, or other town services and incorporate that in the CDBG program.”
In addition to the November 6th and December 12th public meetings, residents can answer a survey to provide input.
To learn more about the public meetings and stay apprised of the CDBG Five-Year Plan, contact the department of Planning & Community Development at 781-340-5015 or visit the CDBG website at: https://www.weymouth.ma.us/planning-community-development/pages/cdbg-program