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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 22-1296

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Substantial Amendment to the 2019—2023 Consolidated Plan and 2019 Action Plan; Public Hearing

[52 Pa.B. 5509]
[Saturday, August 27, 2022]

 On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (Pub.L. No. 116-136) was signed into law to respond to the growing effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis. The CARES Act provides special allocations to the Commonwealth under the Community Development Block Grant—Cares (CDBG-CV), Emergency Solutions Grant and Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS Grant programs to be used to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 Annually, the Department of Community and Economic Development (Department) prepares the Action Plan which outlines the methods of distribution for Federal funding received by the Commonwealth through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Notice is hereby given that the 2019—2023 Consolidated Plan and the 2019 Action Plan will be amended to account for two additional allocations of CDBG-CV funding. For the 2019 Action Plan, the Methods of Distribution to the Commonwealth's resources will be updated, which according to the Pennsylvania Citizen Participation Plan for the Consolidated Plan, constitutes a significant change in the distribution of funds under the plan and requires a substantial amendment to the original Consolidated Plan and Action Plan.

 The Department conducted an unmet needs survey from December 20, 2021, until January 25, 2022. In addition, two listening sessions with grantees were held on March 8, 2022, and March 10, 2022. Additionally, the Department staff met with representatives of grantees at the PAHRA Capitol Conference held in February and consulted with the CD&H Advisory Committee to provide additional detail on the continued unmet needs in their communities.

 The information provided to the Department necessitated changing the method of distribution to broaden the scope of public infrastructure projects to be funded and reducing other project categories, which did not receive much consideration by units of local government during the last competitive application period. Proposed activities must support and document that they prepare for, prevent or respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 After receiving applications for funding based on the changes previously as determined by the previously listed methods, the Department is again changing its method of distribution to better align the amounts of funding to reflect those areas which received applications for funding.

 These changes trigger a substantial amendment. In accordance with a waiver of regulatory authority, approved by HUD on April 7, 2020, to the normal citizen comment period, the Commonwealth will hold a 5-day citizen comment period starting August 28, 2022, until September 1, 2022.

 The proposed substantial amendment for the 2019 Annual Action Plan is as follows:

 Increase the amount of funding for Public Improvements and Facilities to $54,248,518.

 Reduce the amount of funding for Housing-related activities to $75,000.

 Reduce the amount of funding for Public Service activities to $0.

 Reduce the amount of funding for Economic Development activities to $0.

Public Review and Comment Period

 The Substantial Amendment to the 2019—2023 Consolidated Plan and 2019 Annual Action Plan is available on the Department's web site at http://dced.pa.gov, under the Consolidated Plans, Annual Plans and Reports tab at the bottom of the home page. The substantial amendment is available for public comment from August 28, 2022, until September 1, 2022.

 A public hearing will be held on August 31, 2022, at 11 a.m. through Microsoft Teams.

 Individuals can join the hearing by phone at (267) 332-8737. The conference ID is 361 247 254#.

 The hearing will be shortened if there is no one to testify or there is minimal response.

 Individuals with a disability or limited English proficiency who wish to participate in the public hearing should contact Megan L. Sieber at (717) 787-5327 or TDD at (717) 346-0308 to discuss how the Department can accommodate their requests.

 Comments on the Substantial Amendment to the 2019—2023 Consolidated Plan and 2019 Annual Action Plan may be electronically submitted to the Department at RA-DCEDcdbghomequestions@pa.gov. Comments will also be accepted by telephone by calling (717) 787-5327. Written comments may be submitted to David Grey, Center for Community and Housing Development, Department of Community and Economic Development, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225. Comments must be received by 4 p.m. on September 1, 2022, to be included as testimony in the Plan that will be submitted to HUD.

NEIL WEAVER, 
Acting Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 22-1296. Filed for public inspection August 26, 2022, 9:00 a.m.]


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