NASHUA – A resolution relative to federal Community Development Block Grant funds received final passage as amended during Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting.

Resolution 19-126 passed with the proposed amendments made during the May 13 Human Affairs Committee meeting, which include amending the amounts awarded to agencies and item 11 under activities to be funded in Fiscal Year 18. That item, Housing Improvement Program is slated for a total of $89,000 and provides financial and technical assistance to eligible low-moderate income, owner-occupants in for essential repairs of one to four family residential properties. Additionally, included in that item, it reads that emergency work costing at least $1,000 and up to $5,000 may be offered in the form of a grant rather than a loan to owners at or below 30 percent area median income.

Alderwoman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja said the original motion had been 50 percent area median income, but because this is a new program, it was determined officials should start at 30 percent after some further conversation. She said based on the response, officials may look at 50 percent for next year.

“It was the feeling of the committee that because this was a new program, and we weren’t sure what was going to happen with our resources, we would try it this year at 30 percent AMI so we would, hopefully, have enough money,” Melizzi-Golja said. “Then depending upon the request for funding we would look at it in next year’s CDBG grant, and looking at increasing that or lower it as it is to 50 percent.”

Available funds come in both new funds received this year, as well as funds that were not used and were able to be rolled over into this year. So, after receiving the initial proposals from each agency, recommendations were made. She said some got nothing, while others got a percentage of what they wanted.

“The numbers reflected in the amendment are what the committee awarded,” Melizzi-Golja said.

Moreover, Resolution 19-126 authorizes the mayor to apply for and expend the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership program funds for Fiscal Year 2020. The fiscal impact will be a total of $791,423.84 in CDBG funds and a total of $359,905 in HOME Investment Partnership funds to be used for specific

purposes.

Activities funded in FY 18:

Public Services – $97,012.50

Entrepreneurship For All (E for All) – $40,000

Nashua Children’s Home – $39,024

Nashua Police Athletic League (PAL) – $20,000

Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter – $75,000

Opportunity Networks – $50,000

PLUS Company -$43,094

Youth Council – $25,000

CDBG Grant Administration – $135,350

Project Delivery – $115,000

Housing Improvement Program (HIP) – $89,000

Rental Rehab Program – $54,894

Contingency – $8,049.34

Additionally, the following HOME activities will be carried out with an annual grant of – $359,905:

HOME Grant Administration – $35,990.50

Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Reserve – $53,985.75

Affordable Housing Development – $269,928.75

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