NORTHAMPTON — In an effort to engage with the community on the best use of its Community Development Block Grants, or CDBG, the city has started a series of focus group meetings to gain insight, culminating with a remote focus group meeting on Monday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m., where the public is encouraged to attend and provide input.
The city of Northampton has started development on its 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan to guide how Community CDBG funds will be used to support affordable housing, homelessness services, public infrastructure and economic opportunities for low-and moderate-income residents over the next five years. Kicking off the process were two meetings on Feb. 11 and 12 that focused Economic Development and Public Infrastructure on day one, and housing and homelessness the following day.
Community Development Planner Keith Benoit hosted the first two meetings and was joined by representatives from different agencies around the city. According to Benoit, the meetings went well as much feedback provided was from people who are on the ground working in these topic areas.
“It was good collaboration,” said Benoit. “I expect more people for the online version.”
A remote focus group will be on Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. and be the last time public can make feedback before the CDBG grants are available to the public. If unable to attend this meeting, a Community Needs Survey is currently available on the city website under the CDBG tab. The survey must be completed no later than Friday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m.
“People know about it, so I think there is desire to let their voices be heard,” said Benoit.
Community Development Block Grants are federal funds for local community needs focused on low-moderate income benefits, slums and blight and urgent needs. Benoit explained during the meetings that the city uses most of its funding for the low-moderate income benefit, going beyond the 70% minimum requirement needed for funding to be allocated there.
These grants can support projects in affordable housing, public services like social services, economic development and public infrastructure and facilities. It cannot fund schools, general government expenses, city salaries, political or religious activities.
This part of the planning process helps the city identify needs for the city based on public feedback. They then must determine the goals of these needs through the city’s Consolidated Plan and then the city’s annual action plan.
The forming of the five-year consolidation plan is crucial to leading to the allocation of CDBG funds as the city can set funding priorities and guide their annual funding decisions over the time period.
Some past projects that have benefited from CDBG funding include the 53-units of mixed income family rental housing in the North Commons ($50,000 grant), an accessible playground at the Hampshire Heights ($150,000), interior renovations to improve ADA accessibility to the Forbes Library single stall bathrooms ($37,250) and demolition of the Moose Lodge ($73,530).
Once the final remote focus group meeting occurs on Feb. 24, the application is expected to be open by the end of the month, according to Benoit. After applications close the city will begin its internal review and public hearings process and create its Action Plan that will be based on recommendations and feedback from people on the best approach for the consolidated planning.
The city must submit its Action Plan to HUD by May 15. The link for the Feb. 24 remote focus group meeting can be found on the city’s website.
