COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is the major funding source that is administered by Jefferson County to be used for community development projects.

Each year Jefferson County receives a CDBG allocation for each of the two entitlement communities  (Brookville & Punxsutawney) along with an allocation for distribution among the non-entitlement communities in Jefferson County (all other municipalities in the County).  In the non-entitlement communities, Jefferson County has been targeting the use of CDBG funds towards resolving problems with water systems, sanitary sewer systems and storm sewer systems.

Who can apply for grant funds?

Only municipalities located in Jefferson County are eligible to submit an application for these grant funds.  However, it is acceptable for a municipality to submit an application on behalf of an authority located within its municipality.

The MAXIMUM income limit permitted for participation in the block grant program is 80% of the median income for Jefferson County according to household size identified in the income table as Low Income.

When can applications be submitted?

Jefferson County accepts applications year around.  However, the County can only submit an application to the Department of Community and Economic Development once a year.  The County notifies each municipality as to the cut off date for receiving applications to be considered for the annual submission to the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Project eligibility requirements.

For the types of projects identified above (water systems, sanitary sewer systems, and storm sewer systems) all of the following requirements must be met.

1. It must be new construction, replacement, extension or expansion of a current system.  Maintenance costs are not eligible costs for the CDBG program.

2. At least 51% of the people benefiting from the project must qualify as low/moderate income.

3. The project are must be predominately residential.

The Department of Development also assists municipalities in Jefferson County seeking CDBG Competitive funding by preparing and submitting CDBG Competitive applications on behalf of municipalities and administering the grant.