City seeks public input on Consolidated Plan

posted on: 2/18/2020

The City of Dover’s Department of Planning and Community Development is developing a Consolidated Plan to identify how Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are distributed. The Consolidated Plan will describe community needs, resources, priorities, and proposed activities to be undertaken under certain Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, including CDBG.

Each year, the city accepts applications from public service agencies, qualified individuals and eligible organizations for grant funds from the CDBG program. The federal funds are distributed to organizations and projects that are found to best address development needs identified by the community. Eligible CDBG activities include, but are not limited to, acquisition of property, development or improvement of public facilities, clearance or demolition, public services, and special economic development activities.

The City of Dover will hold a series of Listening Sessions to gather community input related to Dover’s CDBG program. Information gathered during these sessions will assist in the development of the Consolidated Plan and the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. These CDBG documents are used by local decision makers to prioritize annual CDBG funding allocations for community-based projects, programs and organizations over a five-year period. Draft versions of both documents, which will incorporate feedback from the Listening Sessions and other outreach efforts, will be made available for public review in late March.

Individuals, organizations, agencies and programs are invited to attend the Listening Sessions to learn more about the Consolidated Plan, CDBG program and provide comments about critical community issues, needs and opportunities. The Listening Sessions are scheduled as follows:

Garrison Elementary School, Cafeteria
50 Garrison Road, Dover
Thursday, Feb. 20, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Waldron Towers, Community Room
3 Green Street, Dover
Saturday, Feb. 22, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

City Hall, First Floor Conference Room
288 Central Avenue, Dover
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Woodman Park Elementary School, Cafeteria
11 Towle Avenue, Dover
Wednesday, Feb.26, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

McConnell Center, Room 306
61 Locust Street, Dover
Saturday, Feb. 29, 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Horne Street Elementary School, Cafeteria
78 Horne Street, Dover
Tuesday, March 3, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

City Hall, First Floor Conference Room
288 Central Avenue, Dover
Wednesday, March 4, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

In addition to attending any of the Listening Sessions, the public may take an online survey. The anonymous survey will require approximately 15 minutes to complete.

To access the survey, visit https://conta.cc/38tOzc3.

To learn more about Dover’s Community Development Block Grant program, visit the Planning Department page here.

The City of Dover has been a CDBG entitlement community for over 25 years. The HUD program provides annual grants on a formula basis to entitled cities and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income people. HUD awards grants to entitlement community grantees to carry out a wide range of community development activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, economic development, and providing improved community facilities and services. Entitlement communities develop their own programs and funding priorities.

For more information, contact Dave Carpenter, Community Development Planner, at d.carpenter@dover.nh.gov or (603) 516-6008.