City of Rochester
News Release
(Friday, May 1, 2020) – The City of Rochester is seeking community input regarding the use of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
As a provision of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act adopted in March, the City is slated to receive approximately $7.5 million in additional HUD funding to prepare for and respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The additional funding will be added in the form of an amendment to the 2019-20 Consolidated Community Plan/Annual Action Plan, the budget for the City’s annual HUD allocation.
The public comment period on the proposed amendment begins today, Friday, May 1 through 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 6 and will conclude with an online public meeting of the Rochester City Council to be held at 5 p.m., Thursday, May 7.
The funds would be used for such purposes as economic development; housing services; closing the digital divide; providing support services for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless; a contingency fund to be allocated based on the needs of the community in relation to the coronavirus epidemic; with the remainder to be used for administering the program. Funds could also be allocated to organizations that are providing services to the homeless and those at risk of homelessness or individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
To view the full amendment, visit www.cityofrochester.gov/conplan. Comments on the amendment can be delivered by email to Amy Ventura at amy.ventura@cityofrochester.gov or by U.S. mail to Amy Ventura, c/o CARES Act Action Plan Amendment, City Hall Room 224B, 30 Church Street, Rochester, NY 14614.
In order for a comment to be presented at the online public hearing, it must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 and be prefaced by the name and address of the commenting individual or organization. Each comment submitted in this manner will be read into the record for up to 3 minutes of time on the live webcast of the public hearing that begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. In addition, the full text of comments will be shared with each member of the Council prior to the hearing.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the public hearing will be conducted on-line, streamed live on the Council’s Facebook(www.facebook.com/RochesterCityCouncil) and Youtube pages (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_U7nbtS5kEz4bjEM8AGXlQ?view_as=subscriber).
Editors: Please note, this public comment period applies to funding that would be added to the current Consolidated Community Plan/Annual Actual Action (2019-20). A 30-day public comment period is also underway to help draft the upcoming five-year version of the plan, the Consolidated Community Plan 2020-2024, as well as the 2020-21 Annual Action Plan.
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News Media: For more information, contact 311 (428-5990)