City Seeks Public Input on Spending Federal CDBG-Recovery Dollars
The City of Evanston is seeking public input through November 1, 2011on its Amendment to to its Community Development Block Grant-Recovery (CDBG-R) plan. The city received $523,828 in CDBG-R funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. These funds were distributed on a formula basis to CDBG entitlement communities. Eligible uses of funds are based on CDBG regulations, with emphasis put on shovel ready public works projects that would be underway within 120 days. Click here to view Amendment and CDBG-R Plan>>>
Requirements specific to CDBG-R included that all funds must be expended within three years and CDBG-R funds cannot be layered with annual CDBG funding in the same contract. The city submitted its plan for use of CDBG-R funds in the form of an amendment to its 2008/09 One Year Action Plan, which was approved by City Council on May 26, 2009. The chart below shows allocations by activity and expenditures.
| Activity | Allocation | Expended | Remaining |
| Fleetwood-Foster Improvement-Phase 1B | $410,000.00 | $378,249.94 | $31,750.06 |
| Howard Street Improvement Project | $61,446.00 | $ - | $61,446.00 |
| CDBG-R Administration | $52,382.00 | $ 14,124.74 | $38,257.26 |
| Total | $523,828.00 | $392,374.68 | $131,453.32 |
The Fleetwood-Foster project was completed in 2009. Since the CDBG-R plan was approved in 2009, priorities to address needs in south Evanston have changed and are focused on stimulating economic development, particularly on Howard Street and on key properties such as the former CVS Pharmacy at the corner of Oakton and Asbury. This area is in or near census tract 8102, which comprises the city’s south Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA) and is also targeted by the city’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 grant to purchase, rehabilitate and re-occupy foreclosed homes in neighborhoods hardest hit by foreclosures and job losses. Economic development is a high priority of the NRSA plan, part of the City’s 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan.