City View: Help us identify our community development needs

by Tim Teddy

January 26,2008

Every day, you set priorities and determine which investments of time and money will most improve your quality of life and ability to succeed. As a citizen of Columbia, you also have the opportunity to help set priorities that affect the overall character, quality and success of our community.The City of Columbia Community Development Commission (CDC), a nine-member citizen advisory commission, seeks your input between now and Feb. 7, 2008, regarding the city's 2009 Community Development Action Plan.

Each year, the city receives approximately $1.5 million in community development assistance from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These funds are formula grants from two programs: The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, created by Congress in 1974, and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program, created by Congress in 1990.

To qualify for funding, the city created a Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan 2005-2009, a five-year strategy for meeting community needs for decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities through the efforts of the city and other organizations supported by HUD funds.

The Community Development Commission then develops a yearly plan that looks at the needs and priorities for the parts of our city that are struggling socially and economically. Wise investments in these areas play an important role in the strength and success of our entire community.

We are in the early stages of planning the 2009 Community Development Action Plan. The Community Development Commission held a public hearing on community development needs Jan. 16. City Council members will consider public comments as they determine priority community development needs and the type of public improvement applications that should move forward.

The action plan includes assessing the need for public infrastructure, community facilities, community services, economic development activities, housing and supportive services for special-needs populations, and homeless facilities and services. Funding for these programs represents direct investment into lower-income neighborhoods in the community, helps improve the property tax base, creates jobs and wealth, and leverages private investment in the community.

Types of investment may include public infrastructure, such as water, sewer, streets and storm drainage; investment in micro-enterprises; rehabilitation of existing buildings for businesses that create jobs for lower-income persons; investment in community facilities, such as daycare, health clinics and buildings that support services for the disabled; investment in affordable housing, including homeownership programs, housing rehabilitation, affordable rental production and rental subsidies for disadvantaged populations; and supportive services, such as job training, financial education and homeownership, as well as home maintenance counseling and education.

Prior to Feb. 7, written public comments concerning community development needs for the 2009 Annual Action Plan should be submitted to the Department of Planning and Development, 701 E. Broadway, Columbia, Mo. 65201 or may be e-mailed to planning@gocolumbiamo.com.

After consideration by the Council and approval of the city's 2009 Action Plan in the fall, all comments at the initial hearing are provided to HUD along with the Action Plan. These comments may again be considered by HUD in the award of HUD discretionary (as distinct from "formula") funds, including funding to help the homeless through the continuum of care, self-sufficiency programs operated by the Columbia Housing Authority, and economic development initiative-linked funding. All HUD funding must be consistent with needs expressed in the city's five-year Consolidated Plan and Action Plan documents.

A copy of the city's five-year plan outlining categories of priority community development needs may be obtained at Department of Planning and Development, 701 E. Broadway, or may be viewed on the city's Web site at www.gocolumbiamo.com/Planning.

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