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Community Development
The Lackawanna County Department of Planning and Economic Development is the administering agency for the Community Development Block Grant Program in the County. The CDBG Program consists of federal funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development which are administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
In Lackawanna County there are 11 entitlement communities. In order to be determined to be an entitlement community, the community must have a population of 4,000 or more and be listed on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s List of Distressed Communities. Lackawanna County is provided with yearly allocations CDBG funds on behalf of each of the 11 entitlement communities. The 11 entitlement communities include: the Boroughs of Archbald, Blakely, Clarks Summit, Dickson City, Dunmore, Jessup, Old Forge, Olyphant, Taylor, Throop and Scott Township.
In Lackawanna County there are 27 nonentitlement communities. In order to be determined to be a nonentitlement community, the community must have a population of less than 4,000 and/or are not listed on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s List of Distressed Communities. Lackawanna County is provided with a yearly allocation CDBG funds which will benefit the 27 nonentitlement communities. The 27 nonentitlement communities include: the Townships of Benton, Carbondale, Clifton, Covington, Elmhurst, Fell, Glenburn, Greenfield, Jefferson, LaPlume, Madison, Newton, North Abington, Ransom, Roaring Brook, South Abington, Spring Brook, Thornhurst, Waverly, and West Abington; and the Boroughs of Clarks Green, Dalton, Jermyn, Mayfield, Moosic, Moscow, and Vandling.
Community Development Block Grant
–The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs.
–The CDBG program works to ensure decent affordable housing, to provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities, and to create jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses.
–Administer approximately $1.5 million per year in grant funds across 11 entitlement communities ($5.3.mil project improvement investment over last 5 years) and 27 non-entitlement communities ($1.1.mil project improvement investment over last 5 years).
2023 Project status
- 8 projects in pre-bid phase, 4 awarded and in progress - all projects are on target to be completed by September 2023.
Notice of Fair Housing Officer and Complaint Process for Lackawanna County
FUNDABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROJECTS
In order for an activity to be considered fundable, it must first be an activity which is eligible under CDBG Program requirements.
The project must then meet one of the Three National Objectives of the CDBG Program in order to be considered fundable. These are:
1. Benefit to Low to Moderate Income (LMI) Persons
- Direct Benefit to LMI Persons- CDBG funds will directly benefit LMI persons, such as in a housing rehabilitation program where LMI homeowners receive funds directly to address health and safety problems in the home.
- Indirect Benefit to LMI Persons- CDBG funds will indirectly benefit a majority of at least 51% LMI persons, such as a sanitary sewer line reconstruction project in a given area where a minimum of 51% of the persons hooked up to the sewer line are LMI.
- Assumed Benefit to LMI Persons- CDBG funds will be assumed to benefit LMI persons, such as a Senior Citizen Center project which benefit Senior Citizens, or a architectural barrier removal project which increases access for handicapped/elderly persons; these projects are assumed to meet LMI requirements according to CDBG regulations.
- Limited Clientele- Public Service projects limited to a specific group of people, such as a senior citizens, disabled, or homeless, of which 51% are LMI.
- Economic Development- Projects to create or retain permanent jobs, where at least 51% of the jobs involve the employment of LMI persons.
2. Prevention or Elimination of Slums or Blight
In an area where a substantial number of deteriorated, dilapidated structures, a project to address this condition may qualify under this National Objective. Activities may include acquisition of structures for demolition, relocation activities, or rehabilitation of structures. Applicants must define specific boundaries of blighted areas and quantify the “substantial” number of deteriorated, dilapidated structures in accordance with CDBG requirements.
3. Immediate Threat to the Health and Safety of the Community
Under this National Objective, the applicant must clearly demonstrate a threat to the health and safety of residents. The condition must have developed and become critical within 18 months of the application for funds. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate that it is unable to finance the activity on its own and no other sources of funding are available for this purpose.
ELIGIBLE CDBG ACTIVITIES
The following is a list of Eligible Activity Categories which may be assisted with Community Development Block Grant Program Funds
| Water/Sewer Improvements Storm Water Improvements Street Improvements Parks, Recreation Facilities Senior Center/Facilities Fire Station/Equipment Public Facilities – Other Parking Facilities Rehab: Single-Unit Residential Rehab: Publicly or Privately Owned Comm/Ind. Direct Homeownership Assistance Construction of Housing Acquisition – for Rehabilitation Acquisition of Real Property Relocation Clearance and Demolition Disposition |
Non-Residential Historic Preservation Interim Assistance ED Direct Financial Assistance Planned Repayment of Section 108 Loan Principal Public Services Senior Centers Handicapped Youth Programs Child Care Code Enforcement Planning and Capacity Building, such as: Comprehensive Plans Zoning Ordinances Subdivision/Land Development Ordinances Building Codes Program Administration Costs |
INELIGIBLE CDBG ACTIVITIES
The following is a list of Ineligible Activity Categories which may not be assisted with Community Development Block Grant Program Funds
- Buildings or portions thereof, used for the general conduct of government
- General Government Expenses
- Operating and Maintenance Expenses
- Political Activities
- Purchase of Construction Equipment
- Purchase of Fire Protection Equipment
- Purchase of Furnishings and Personal Property
- Income Payments
Administrative Contacts
| Peggy Piccotti Community Development Manager Department of Planning and Economic Development Scranton, PA 18503 570.963.6830 x1356 Email: Contact Me |
Mark Mercanti Fiscal Manager Department of Planning and Economic Development Phone: 570-963-6830 Ext. 1368 Fax 570-963-7596 Email: Contact Me |
Valerie Calpin Business Consultant Department of Planning and Economic Development Phone: 570-963-6830 Ext. 1372 Fax 570-963-7596 Email: Contact Me |
Joe Rovinsky Compliance Manager Department of Planning and Economic Development Phone: 570-963-6830 Ext. 1374 Fax 570-963-7596 Email: Contact Me |
Location
Lackawanna County Government Center
123 Wyoming Avenue, 5th Floor
Scranton, PA 18503