Community Development Block Grants Updates; Eyewitness News Speaks With Area Non-For-Profits
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: November 27, 2012
A program that enables Utica to fund community programs has some
updates. Community Development Block Grants, or CDBG funds allows Utica
to give support to community programs and non-for-profit organizations.
Since last years allocation, the funds available for CDBG agencies have been cut in half. There is $170,000 dollars and councilmen say the total requests were three times higher than the available funding. Eyewitness News speaks with non-for-profits in our area and they say why they deserve these grants.
"There's no more hiding money, there's no more places to cut and mattresses to cut, so we would have to shut down the youth center," says Marques Phillips, Johnson Park Center volunteer.
Marques Phillips is a volunteer at Johnson Park Center. He says these children have become his family.
"I know there sisters, I know their brothers, mothers, and everybody else here does. So we're part of the community. These are our kids," says Phillips.
Johnson Park is asking for funds for their Youth Recreation Center.
"We're asking to help us teach them inside of their own community with people that know them, love them, care about them," says Phillips.
The Family Place, operated by the Family Nurturing Center, is also asking for funds.
"It really helps with the basic need of keeping the door open," says MaryAnn Stockton, The Family Place coordinator.
The Family Place gives parents in need essential resource materials, as well as parent-child education programs.
"We're doing things on health and wellness also, workshops to help families with whatever they're feeling overwhelmed with," says Stockton.
One mom says she attends the parenting classes twice a week.
"I think it helps me and my boyfriend get on the same page as far as discipline and other things involving parenting," says Desiree Sady, The Family Place attendee.
And if the family place doesn't get the grants..
"It would probably devastate the community more than anybody would think," says Sady.
But with nearly 20 applications submitted to the CDBG committee, not every agency will get the grants they're hoping for.
"Substantial reductions to all sub-recipients or elimination of funding to some select agencies are both possible considerations," says Brian Thomas, Urban and Economic Development Committee.
Now the CDBG Committee has finished their funding recommendations for the agencies. The Urban and Economic development committee must approve or modify these recommendations and then Mayor Palmieri has the final say in allocations.
The plan must be ready for public review, by January 15th. And the work-plan must be sent to Housing and Urban Development (HUD), by February 15th.
Since last years allocation, the funds available for CDBG agencies have been cut in half. There is $170,000 dollars and councilmen say the total requests were three times higher than the available funding. Eyewitness News speaks with non-for-profits in our area and they say why they deserve these grants.
"There's no more hiding money, there's no more places to cut and mattresses to cut, so we would have to shut down the youth center," says Marques Phillips, Johnson Park Center volunteer.
Marques Phillips is a volunteer at Johnson Park Center. He says these children have become his family.
"I know there sisters, I know their brothers, mothers, and everybody else here does. So we're part of the community. These are our kids," says Phillips.
Johnson Park is asking for funds for their Youth Recreation Center.
"We're asking to help us teach them inside of their own community with people that know them, love them, care about them," says Phillips.
The Family Place, operated by the Family Nurturing Center, is also asking for funds.
"It really helps with the basic need of keeping the door open," says MaryAnn Stockton, The Family Place coordinator.
The Family Place gives parents in need essential resource materials, as well as parent-child education programs.
"We're doing things on health and wellness also, workshops to help families with whatever they're feeling overwhelmed with," says Stockton.
One mom says she attends the parenting classes twice a week.
"I think it helps me and my boyfriend get on the same page as far as discipline and other things involving parenting," says Desiree Sady, The Family Place attendee.
And if the family place doesn't get the grants..
"It would probably devastate the community more than anybody would think," says Sady.
But with nearly 20 applications submitted to the CDBG committee, not every agency will get the grants they're hoping for.
"Substantial reductions to all sub-recipients or elimination of funding to some select agencies are both possible considerations," says Brian Thomas, Urban and Economic Development Committee.
Now the CDBG Committee has finished their funding recommendations for the agencies. The Urban and Economic development committee must approve or modify these recommendations and then Mayor Palmieri has the final say in allocations.
The plan must be ready for public review, by January 15th. And the work-plan must be sent to Housing and Urban Development (HUD), by February 15th.
