Sussex County to hold series of public hearings for community development grants

Georgetown, Del., Nov. 21, 2006: Sussex County government will hold a series of public hearings in the coming weeks to take citizen input on how federal Community Development Block Grant funding should be spent for low-income housing rehabilitation and infrastructure improvements within Sussex County in the coming year.

A dozen public hearings will be held throughout the county, beginning Dec. 4 and running through early January 2007. The meetings are a required step in the annual preparation of the County’s request for federal CDBG money, funding that comes from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.

The money is used to improve low- to moderate-income communities through housing rehabilitations and demolitions, as well as public infrastructure upgrades for wastewater and water utilities that serve those communities.

For 2007, an estimated $2 million will be available to Kent and Sussex counties, according to William C. Lecates, director of Sussex County’s Community Development & Housing office.

Projects for consideration must be submitted from the communities to the Delaware State Housing Authority, which then forwards applications, based on priority, onto the federal government for consideration. Federal funding is announced each spring. The DSHA manages the CDBG program for the State of Delaware.

“These hearings are the public’s chance to step forward and say, ‘These are the needs in our community, and this is how and where we believe the money should be spent,’ ” Mr. Lecates said. “It’s important that the public help us prioritize the greatest needs within our community.”

Sussex County government will take information from all of the hearings, and put together an application request on behalf of the County and various towns for CDBG funding in 2007.

The following is a list of public hearings scheduled for the 2007 CDBG funding application:

  • 7 p.m. Dec. 4, Frankford Town Hall (Town of Frankford);
  • 7 p.m. Dec. 4, Laurel Town Hall (Town of Laurel);
  • 7 p.m. Dec. 4, Milton Theatre (Town of Milton);
  • 7 p.m. Dec. 5, Ellendale Town Hall (Town of Ellendale);
  • 7 p.m. Dec. 5, Greenwood Town Hall (Town of Greenwood);
  • 7 p.m. Dec. 11, Hardin Hall (Town of Blades);
  • 7 p.m. Dec. 11, Bridgeville Town Hall (Town of Bridgeville);
  • 7 p.m. Dec. 11, Lewes City Hall (City of Lewes);
  • 7 p.m. Dec. 11, Milford City Hall (City of Milford);
  • 7 p.m. Dec. 11, Selbyville Town Hall (Town of Selbyville);
  • 7 p.m. Dec. 13, Georgetown Town Hall (Town of Georgetown);
  • 7 p.m. Jan. 9, 2007, Sussex County Council chambers (unincorporated Sussex County).

The communities of Delmar, Ocean View and West Rehoboth will be included in the County’s portion of the CDBG request. The communities of Bethel, Bethany Beach, Dagsboro, Dewey Beach, Fenwick Island, Millsboro, Millville, Rehoboth Beach, Seaford, Slaughter Beach and South Bethany have not requested inclusion in the County application.

Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting for their respective community. For more information, contact Sussex County Community Development & Housing at (302) 855-7777.