City of Salem to Develop Annual CDBG Action Plan
Mayor Dominick Pangallo has announced that the City of Salem is developing its annual Action Plan, which will outline priority activities for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds that the City of Salem anticipates receiving during Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). This funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, assists income-eligible households and low- to moderate-income neighborhoods through a variety of programs, services and improvements.
The FY25 Action Plan will outline Salem’s housing, economic and community development needs and funding priorities for the period of July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. The plan will continue to put into action the goals and strategies established in the 5-Year Consolidated Plan, which was completed following an extensive public participation process in 2020.
Regarding the Action Plan, Mayor Pangallo stated, “The CDBG and HOME grants are valuable funds for community and economic development programs. We encourage community members to participate in developing the FY25 Action Plan.”
During FY23, Salem expended $906,299.62 in CDBG; $418,553.95 in CDBG-CV Funds and $171,354.52 in HOME funds. With these funds the City assisted 12 families with first/last rent and/or security deposits and placed 3 high risk homeless individuals into housing with supportive services, assisted 1 household first time home buyer and assisted two families with a housing rehabilitation. Economic development activities included loans to two new businesses, as well as technical assistance to more than 50 small businesses.
CDBG also funded 30 social service programs that served over 25,000 persons with services, including emergency homelessness prevention, food assistance, support programs for victims of domestic violence, child care, accessible housing assistance, medical services for homeless persons, family engagement, career counseling and financial wellness sessions, senior transportation, a senior exercise and art programs, police bicycle patrols as well as community policing and engagement, legal services for immigrants, and after school and engagement programs including playground programs and college success programs. COVID-19 support included emergency rental assistance, community meals delivery, wi-fi support at public housing, mental health support, an expanded food pantry distribution and youth programs. In addition to the housing, business and social services support, the City also expended funding to undertake deleading at the Mack Park caretacker building, complete an art installation at the Community Life Center, fund a portable shower at Lifebridge, provide housing stability assistance to 237 persons, and complete update of the Point Vision Plan.
Mayor Pangallo invites Salem residents, businesses, organizations, and agencies to participate in the public input participation process that will kick off on January 18, 2024, with a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. via remote participation. For remote participation instructions, see the complete public hearing notice at https://www.salem.com/legal-notices. The purpose of this hearing is to give interested persons the opportunity to comment on the housing, community and economic development needs of Salem’s low- to moderate-income residents and on the types of activities that could be undertaken to meet those needs Interested parties may also provide written comment addressed to the City of Salem Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) or via email to achiancola@salem.com , by January 22nd.
Following this hearing, the DPCD will prepare the draft Action Plan for FY25, which is expected to be available for public comment at the end of March. Copies of the draft plan will be available for viewing on www.salem.com.