For the first time, the City of South Fulton is seeking entitlement funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to access the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for 2021.
City officials plan to submit a five-year consolidated plan and annual action plan to HUD that will prioritize how the grant will be spent.
According to Christina Cummings, deputy director of community development and regulatory affairs, the city will receive approximately $500,000 in the initial round of funding.
“This is the city’s inaugural application for the CDBG fund,” Cummings said. “Previously, because the city was connected to Fulton County, we accessed the fund through Fulton County’s consortium. We are breaking away from that consortium and accessing our own funds to help the city grow in a healthy, sustainable way.”
The plan’s priorities are blight reduction and neighborhood revitalization, facility and public infrastructure improvements, economic development, fair housing, housing counseling and legal services, disaster preparedness and emergency management and planning and administration.
Citizens and other interested parties are invited to provide comments on the proposed plan at the City of South Fulton public hearing today, July 28 at 10 a.m. Residents can also send comments about the grant to Cummings at [email protected].
A copy of the city’s consolidated plan for FY 2020-2024 and action plan for 2021 are available on the city’s website.
Photo: South Fulton residents like Pamela Harvey have long documented blighted properties in the area, calling for revitalization and greater accountability on the part of homeowners. (Credit: Pamela Harvey)