County seeks CDBG applications

By DORIS COOK - Staff Writer
Star Beacon

April 03, 2008 10:23 pm

— JEFFERSON — Ashtabula County commissioners held the first of two public hearings Thursday announcing the enrollment period for local governments or groups to apply for state Community Development Block Grant Small Cities Program dollars.
Ashtabula County Department of Community Services program manager Janice Switzer outlined the various types of grant programs during the hearing.
“Our staff is available to assist communities or residents to apply for the various CDBG grant programs. We can help officials do a community assessment strategy plan if a certain program requires it in the application process,,” Switzer said.
Millions of dollars are available for the various block grant programs, but some are very competitive, she said. An April 28 deadline is set for any Community Development formula allocation program applications to share in the state’s $20.4 million allocation.
Only six projects in Ohio will be awarded funding in this CDFA program, Switzer said. The county has filed an application for CDBG water and sewer grant funding to help pay for the proposed $2.2 million Austinburg Township sanitary sewer project, she said.
Most of the state block grant programs fund a broad range of activities. i
Switzer is requesting village, township and city government officials to contact her office at 440-576-3777 for applications and any information regarding the block grants available.