City of Salinas
Neighborhood Beautification Initiative (NBI)
The City of Salinas annually receives Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME), and Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In May of 2012, the City Council approved, via the FY2012-13 Action Plan, an allocation for the Neighborhood Beautification Initiative in the amount of $17,500, to be equally allocated to each Council District and the Mayor’s office (or $2,500 each). Each Council District has the opportunity to allocate grant funding to individuals or groups for eligible CDBG activities. Council members can distribute the funds themselves to individuals or groups, establish a committee to provide counsel on the projects for the community, pool their funds with those of another Council District for a cooperative project, or propose another method to allocate funds in their district. View Application and View Map.
ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES
To be eligible for funding consideration, all proposed CDBG activities must meet one of HUD’s National Objective to benefit low-income persons (at 80% or below the area median income) by:
- Serving a limited clientele, at least 51% of whom are lower income;
- Serving persons in a defined area where at least 51% of the residents are lower income;
- A map with Council District overlays identifying Low/Moderate income areas eligible for CDBG funding is attached.
- Providing affordable housing for lower income persons/households; or
- Creating jobs, at least 51% of which are held or made available to lower income persons.
In addition, the proposed activity must be an eligible activity under one or more of the following:
- ·Community Garden
- ·Tree Planting
- ·Neighborhood Clean-up
- ·Neighborhood (Gateway) Sign
INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES
CDBG funds may not be used for expenses associated with repairing, operating or maintaining public facilities, improvements, and services (filling of potholes, repairing cracks in sidewalk, mowing of recreation areas, replacement of expended street light bulbs, fire hydrant painting, storm drain stenciling, repainting of curbs, fence replacement, and weed abatement. For the complete CDBG regulations on ineligible activities, please refer to 24 CFR 570.207.
OTHER FEDERAL REGULATIONS
CDBG expenditures must be allowable as outlined in the Federal cost guidelines. Refer to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a087_2004
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Individual/s or Organizations must submit a monthly progress report to Sheila Molinari (contact information below) by the 10th day following the end of the month, in a format provided by the City, until the project is completed.
APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS
All proposals will be carefully reviewed to determine specific eligibility under HUD regulations, City policies and activity characteristics such as feasibility, readiness, leveraging, and individual/organizational capacity.
APPLICATION TIMELINE
Monday, January 7, 2013 NBI Information Packet and Application Disseminated
Thursday, February 7, 2013 Proposals Due, Staff Begins Review of Proposals Received
Tuesday, February 19, 2013 Eligible Proposals Presented to each Council District, Awards Determined
Monday, February 21, 2013 Grant Awards Announced and Award Letters Sent Out, Program Begins
Monday, February 25, 2012 Project Orientation Meeting 4:00pm City Hall
Thursday, May 9, 2013 Last Day to Expend CDBG Funds
Thursday, May 30, 2013 Last Day to Submit Reimbursement Requests and Final Project Reports
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
1) Complete application (available in Word format).
2) Attach required documentation.
3) Sign and date application.
4) Submit one copy of the signed application by the application DUE DATE of Thursday, February 7, 2013, 4:00 PM to:
Sheila Molinari
City of Salinas
Neighborhood Services Program
200 Lincoln Avenue,
Salinas, California 93901
OR via e-mail
For more information, you may call Sheila Molinari at 831 758 7476 or 831 540 8801.
