Notice is hereby given by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs of a proposed 2nd Substantial Amendment to the Federal FY2019 Annual Action Plan. The proposed amendment involves a supplemental allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus (CDBG-CV grants). The purpose of the public hearing is to receive citizen comments on the 2nd CDBG-CV Substantial Amendment.

DCA will hold a virtual public hearing on Monday, May 24, 2021 at 10:30 AM which will be streamed live. To register visit, https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2273784963726038798. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Summary: This 2nd Substantial Amendment addresses the appropriation of $82,850,607 through the first three tranches of CARES CDBG-CV and possible additional funding through the third tranche for the State through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law 116-136 to allow funding for activities to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the Coronavirus.

Specifically, Georgia’s amendment will alter the previous CDBG-CV amendment made due to subsequent federal funding added to various programs in response to the COVID-19:

• Retain planning activities approved in the prior amendment;
• Allocate the remainder of the funding to eligible public facility activities; and
• Modify the CDBG Method of Distribution for the CDBG-CV program.

The additional programming and substantial funding increase from the CARES Act depicted in the chart below require a substantial amendment and public notice as described in the Citizen Participation Plan.

Modifications for Program Year 2019

Proposed Activity                Ending Date                                   Existing Budget                                         New Budget                                                                                                           

Increase Funding/Programming
CDBG-CV Round 1                12/31/2026                                     New Funding/NA                                     $   24,960,281
Public Facilities – to support response to COVID-19                                                                                    $   23,213,061
Administration & Technical Assistance                                                                                                          $     1,747,220

CDBG-CV Round 2                12/31/2026                                     New Funding/NA                                     $   35,499,505
Public Facilities – to support response to COVID-19                                                                                    $   32,014,540
Administration & Technical Assistance                                                                                                          $     2,484,965

CDBG-CV Round 3                12/31/2026                                     New Funding/NA                                     $   22,390,821
Planning                                                                                                                                                        $     2,051,065
Public Facilities – to support response to COVID-19                                                                                    $   18,772,399
Administration & Technical Assistance                                                                                                          $     1,567,357

Total CDBG-CV CARES Act funding (Rounds 1, 2 and 3)                                                                        $   82,850,607

Proposed activity changes by Program:  The Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Community Finance Division, as the designated administrator of the State of Georgia’s State CDBG and CDBG-CV programs amends the program activity to use the CARES Act funding to fund public assistance activities which includes the construction, rehabilitation or enhancement of public facilities which may include capital expenses for food banks and/or food pantries and/or access to rural health care.

CDBG-CV Rounds 1, 2 & 3 – Public Facilities

• DCA will work to identify public facility improvements necessary to “prevent, prepare for, and respond to” COVID-19.
• Nine food banks exist across the state of Georgia, serving all 159 counties.  Food banks have experienced a dramatic increase in demand as a response to COVID-19.  To continue the response to COVID-19 and prepare for future surges or events, additional physical capacity is needed by the food banks.  Funding from CDBG-CV will be available for local governments in those impacted communities to apply for funding to address facility enhancements to meet demand that has resulted from COVID-19.
• Operating with a hub-and-spoke model, food banks across Georgia work directly with food pantries to provide much needed food to individuals in need throughout the state.  These food pantries were not designed to meet the demand levels that have been experienced due to COVID-19.  Georgia’s CDBG-CV program will accept applications from local governments to support eligible food pantries as they seek to respond to COVID-19 and prepare for future surges or events.
• The pandemic further evidenced the lack of access to health care in rural portions of Georgia.  As access to health care directly impacts individuals and how care is administered both for coronavirus and in times of coronavirus.  Data indicates that care, especially in rural parts of the state, has been lagging.  To address this, DCA intends to offer funds to eligible applicants for facilities that will address a range of health concerns from public health departments, vaccine facilities, or any health-related facility that the Department deems necessary to prevent, prepare for or respond to COVID-19.
• Entitlement and non-entitlement local governments will be eligible to apply for funding to enhance the capabilities of food banks to respond to COVID-19.  Local governments will be eligible to apply for funding to improve facilities for food pantry and health care access within communities typically eligible to receive funding from the state CDBG annual competition. 

The State of Georgia plans to amend the current Method of Distribution to directly fund entitlement as well as non-entitlement units of local government for the CARES Act funding.

To date, the State of Georgia has received three rounds of CARES Act funding totaling $ 82,850,607. DCA will make awards following the requirements as set forth in the CDBG-CV Federal Register Notice FR-6218-N-01 dated August 20, 2020.

A portion of the funds will be used for the administrative costs incurred by the State and its grantees.

Public Comments: The State of Georgia is providing notice for the following public comment period:

• Comment Period to Add CARES Act funding and to modify the CDBG MOD:
  A five-day public comment period begins on May 18, 2021 with the posting on the Georgia Department of Community Affairs website and distribution by email to program stakeholders to inform the public of the proposed amendment and inviting comments through May 25, 2021.
  
  The 2nd Substantial Amendment and DCA’s Citizens Participation Plan is available on the Georgia Department Affairs website at www.dca.ga.gov.  Comments and questions may be submitted:

By email to:  cdbg-cv@dca.ga.gov

Or by mail to:
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Community Finance Division/CDBG-CV
60 Executive Park South, NE
Atlanta, Ga 30329

All comments received during the public hearing will be considered and a summary incorporated into the Substantial Amendment.

Gov. Brian Kemp today announced that 58 Georgia communities will receive a total of $40.7 million in federal community development assistance. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated the funding to Georgia’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which is administered by the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA). 

The CDBG program is available to eligible local governments through a competitive grant program. Each year, CDBG supports community projects that create jobs and assist citizens with low and moderate incomes. These grants will benefit infrastructure projects such as neighborhood revitalization and water and sewer improvements, as well as facilities for special populations such as youth and senior citizens.

“Year after year, local governments across Georgia collaborate with citizens to address their needs regarding the places they call home,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “This year’s CDBG awards reflect how a unified and solutions-based approach can help communities to thrive and build towards a sustainable future.”

DCA Commissioner Christopher Nunn echoed Gov. Kemp’s sentiment: “It is extremely fulfilling to see the long-term impact CDBG funds have in Georgia. Investments this year will provide essential resources that benefit communities for years to come."

Click here to see a listing of this year's award recipients and descriptions.