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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 HEADSTART PROG 03-21-94 NO. 9 3-21-94 Inter-Com _~ATE: MARCH 21, 1994 TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: ESTABLISHING A HEADSTART PROGRAM WITH CDBG FUNDS RECOMMENDATION Receive and file. FISCAL IMPACT No specific allocation of the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds can be acted upon at this time. BACKGROUND At the meeting held on February 22, 1994, Mayor Potts requested a report on a possible proposal from Cliff Polston, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Tustin, to establish a Headstart pre-school program in the .Southwest Area utilizing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Beginning this federal fiscal year, 1994-95, Tustin will be an entitlement community and, as such, can apply directly to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for CDBG funds. We have informally been told that Tustin will receive $494,000 in CDBG funds for the 1994-95 funding year. Communities are permitted to use CDBG monies to develop their own programs and funding priorities as long as they meet one of the three national objectives. Those objectives are: a. Benefiting low and moderate (L/M) income persons, or Addressing slums or blight, or Meeting a particularly urgent community development need, such as assistance to earthquake or flood victims. As an entitlement community, and because our grant award is substantially larger than in previous years, we anticipate receiving a number of funding requests from outside service providers and non-profit agencies. While it is difficult to anticipate the exact number, Community Development Department staff mailed Request for Funding applications to approximately 65 service City Council Report Establishing a Headstart Program with CDBG Funds March 21, 1994 Page 2 providers and non-profit organizations. However, federal law states that only a maximum of 15% of the total grant award ($74,100) may be used for public service programs ~hich assist low and moderate income families or address issues of elimination of slum or blight conditions. The $74,100 limit would apply to any and all public service provider, including any .potential City recommended public service programs. Community Development Department staff met with Cliff Polston and a representative of the Tustin Unified School District (TUSD) who, together, are working on the "Tustin Acts for Families and Youth" (TAFY) program. According to the TUSD representative, one activity currently being explored for the TAFY program is a pre-school; another possible activity is a "satellite" Boys and Girls Club facility. Staff has provided the Boys and Girls Club and the _--USD with copies of all application forms for the CDBG program an~ explained the required procedures. It is not known at this time if a request.to fund such a program will be submitted to the City. Under the federally funded CDBG program, the City must follow a detailed citizen participation process, including public workshops/meetings and a public hearing, prior to 5he City Council making final determinations on the uses of CDBG mcnies. The following is the anticipated schedule for revie~ing and ranking of applications for funding made to the City, holding public hearings and making recommendations to the City Council on the CDBG program. Tentative Dates March 15, 1994 Deadline for submittal of funding proposals from public service providers and non-profit organizations. April 7, 1994 Citizen participation workshop/ meeting to receive comments on "Request for Funding Proposals" from City agencies, outside service providers and non-profits, or additional~ project suggestions. Prioritization of projects will also be discusse~. May 2, 1994 City Council public hearing and approval of Final Statement. City Council Report Establishing a Headstart Program with CDBG Funds March 21, 1994 Page 3 June 1, 1994 3uly 1, 1994 Final Statement of Objectives due to HUD Los Angeles office. Start of Program Year CONCLUSION Staff will be prepared to answer any questions the City Council may have regarding the CDBG program. A~sociale Planner ~R: kd\CCREPORT \cchdst r t. pr