Media Advisory from the Office of Gov. John Hickenlooper
Gov. John Hickenlooper today encouraged people in flood-impacted communities to attend public hearings this week to comment on the state’s Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program funding. The Action Plan outlines how the state proposes to allocate $62.8 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to flood-impacted communities.“These dollars will not make people and communities going through flood recovery whole, but they are important in bolstering the state’s recovery efforts,” Hickenlooper said. “The money will help counties, municipalities, special districts, housing authorities and businesses, including the agricultural community, address important needs in the areas of housing, infrastructure and economic development.”
Colorado’s CDBG-DR Action Plan addresses grant and loan programs that will be available to communities in the areas of housing, infrastructure and economic development. Stakeholder meetings were held last month in Larimer, Weld and Boulder counties. Feedback from the stakeholders meetings were incorporated into a Draft Action Plan.
HUD requires the Draft Action Plan to be open to public comment for seven days. Public hearings are being held to enhance and encourage public participation during this comment period. The public is encouraged to review the plan and can provide public comment between Feb. 10 and 18, 2014.
The funds, announced during a November 2013 visit from national HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, will go toward needs not addressed through other sources of federal assistance, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Public comments will also be accepted through the CDBG-DR website, www.dola.colorado.gov/cdbg-dr/public-commentsor and by email at dola_recovery@state.co.us.
Comments will be incorporated into a final draft that will be submitted to HUD for approval in April.
The schedule for the public hearings is as follows:
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014
4:30 - 6 p.m.Location: Manitou Springs Memorial Hall, 606 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, 80829
Wednesday, Feb. 12
Noon - 2 p.m.Location: Estes Park Town Hall, Board Chambers, 170 MacGregor Ave., Estes Park, 80517
7 - 9 p.m.
Location: Boulder County Clerk & Recorder Office, Houston Room, 1750 33rd St.,
Boulder, 80301
Thursday, Feb. 13
6 - 9 p.m.Location: Evans City Hall, Cottonwood Banquet Room, 1100 37th St., Evans, 80620
