NOTICE: Three Citizens Forums for 2017 Community Development Action Plan

• Tuesday, September 13   7:00 p.m.  Angola Village Hall, 41 Commercial Street, Angola, NY
• RESCHEDULED to: Wednesday, September 21   6:30 p.m.  West Seneca Public Library Meeting Room - 1300 Union Road, West Seneca, 14224
• Thursday, September 15   7:00 p.m.    Tonawanda City Hall – Court Room, 200 Niagara Street, Tonawanda, NY 

The Planning Division administers the Erie County Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Consortiums. These comprise 34 and 37 communities, respectively, in Erie County that have banded together to receive federal funds. These monies are used for a variety of community planning/improvement projects, housing programs, and economic development programs. The Community Development program year runs from April 1st through March 31st.

2016 Program Year Community Development and Housing Highlights 

• Ten Community Projects will be funded this year. This represents approximately 32% of the entitlement grant allocation for a total of $1,160,452. Projects funded are as follows:
• Town of Lancaster, Senior Van Acquisition: $50,352
• Town of Brant, Senior/Community Center ADA Improvements: $18,750
• City of Tonawanda, Erie Road Sanitary Sewer Relining: $100,000
• Village of Depew, Bloomfield, Warsaw, Calumet Sidewalk Replacement : $100,000
• City of Lackawanna, Center Street Reconstruction: $100,000
• Town of West Seneca, Birchwood, N. Covington, Burch and Grace Streets  Road Reconstruction: $100,000
• Village of North Collins, Road Reconstruction: $100,000
• Town of Clarence, Main Street Sidewalk Installation: $100,000
• Village of Akron, Hoag Avenue Sidewalk/Curb Replacement: $66,450
• Village of Gowanda, Hollywood Theater Restoration Improvements: $65,900
• Town of Grand Island, Former Nike Base Demolition Project: $89,000
• Various Communities, Rural Transit Service: $270,000

• Infrastructure improvements within low/moderate-income areas of the Consortium will continue to be a focus. Projects include sidewalk replacements, water/sewer work, and street improvements.

• The Rural Transit Service (RTS) Program operates within 25 of the 34 Consortium municipalities. It is a popular and successful human service for low/moderate-income residents as well as senior citizens.

• The Housing Rehabilitation, Rental Rehabilitation, and Mobile Home Repair programs continue to be very successful with wait lists in effect for each program. Priority is given to those residing in target areas and older housing stock, as well as having lower incomes. The Rental Rehabilitation Program will assist in improving more homes this year.

• Three economic development projects will be funded this year. This represents approximately 22% of the entitlement grant allocation for a total of $597,895, as well as a Smart Growth project in the City of Tonawanda for $325,000. This project will fund improvements to a municipal parking lot adjacent to the City's central business district. Other projects will include demolition of blighted structures in strategic locations and improvements to neighborhood facilities in central business districts.

• A significant smart growth project was completed in 2015 within the Village of Springville. This project included streetscape improvements on Franklin and Mechanic Streets within the central business district with improved walkability, enhanced pedestrian safety, and improved corridor aesthetics. Franklin Street was shortened to allow for more pedestrian friendly sidewalks as part of the project. The project utilized over $687,000 in federal and local funds.

Reports & Documents:

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on a person’s race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin. Persons who are protected from discrimination by fair housing laws are referred to as members of the protected classes. Equal and free access to residential housing (housing choice) is a fundamental right that enables members of the protected classes to pursue personal, educational, employment or other goals. Because housing choice is so critical to personal development, fair housing is a goal that government, public officials and private citizens must embrace if equality of opportunity is to become a reality.

HUD defines an impediment to fair housing choice as any actions, omissions or decisions that restrict or have the effect of restricting the availability of housing choices, based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin.

The Analysis of Impediments (AI) serves as the basis for fair housing planning, provides essential information to policy makers, administrative staff, housing providers, lenders, and fair housing advocates, and assists in building public support for fair housing efforts. The governmental bodies of the five jurisdictions will review the AI and use it for direction, leadership and resources for future fair housing planning. The AI will also serve as a point-in-time baseline against which future progress in terms of implementing fair housing initiatives will be evaluated and recorded.

 The Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice report will be reviewed by the members of the Consortium in June.

2015 Final Community Development Consolidated Annual Performance Report

2016 Final Action Plan for Community Development

Community Development Block Grant 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan and 2015 Action Plan