MEDIA ADVISORY

Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 24, 2003

PROPOSALS SOUGHT FOR PROJECTS UTILIZING CDBG FUNDS

Frederick, Md. --- Please be advised that the City of Frederick plans to amend the Annual Action Plan for 2003 to program $500,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Recently $470,000 became available due to the sale of Site C and $30,000 is being reprogrammed from an existing activity. In September, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen identified affordable housing as the preferred use for these funds. Proposals from community organizations, housing providers, lenders or developers are now being sought.

The basic requirements for proposed projects are: sponsors must be able to plan and execute a project that will produce additional affordable housing or rehabilitate housing and ensure that it remains affordable or assist individuals to secure affordable housing. The proposal should be specific about the need that the project will address and the benefits that will result, income level and tenure of occupancy (owner / renter) of the target population, the number of units of affordable housing produced or rehabilitated, the source and uses of funds, selling price and or rent anticipated.

The following is the schedule for amendment to the Annual Action Plan for Grant year 2003:

1. Prospective project sponsors must schedule a mandatory meeting with the Director of Community Development to review National Objective/Eligible Activity compliance, administrative, record keeping, reporting, monitoring and timeliness requirements prior to November 18, 2003.

2. Sponsors must submit eight copies of a project proposal outline and all backup material to the Department of Community Development by Monday November 24, 2003 at 4:30 p.m.
3. The Director of Community Development will review each proposal and forward them, along with a recommendation, to the Mayor and Aldermen by Thursday December 4, 2003.

4. Mayor and Board of Aldermen Workshop on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 to review project(s).

5. Notice will be published of the project(s) recommended as 2003 Action Plan amendments on December 12, 2003.

6. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen will hear public comment on recommended 2003 Action Plan amendments at an advertised public hearing on December 18, 2003 and will consider written comments on the proposed Action Plan amendments until Monday January 12, 2004.

7. Mayor and Board of Aldermen Public Meeting to adopt the amendments following a public hearing, Thursday January 15, 2004, 7 p.m., City Hall Board Room.

Complete Instructions for submitting a project proposal can be found on the City's website at www.cityoffrederick.com under Community Development. For additional information please contact Jim Schmersahl, director of community development, at 301-228-2840.