HomeMy WebLinkAbout[07d] Housing Grant 7 (d) �.XII' OF 4'7:JOSKPE[ Council Agenda Item
MEETING DATE: October 6, 2011
AGENDA ITEM: Resolution supporting Grant Application
SUBMITTED BY: EDA /Administration
BOARD /COMMISSION /COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: Each year the area Cities review legislative priorities for the upcoming
legislative session. The draft list was prepared by the Mayors and Administrators and was then presented to the
Area Cities at the Intergovernmental Meeting in August. It was agreed at this meeting that each City would discuss
the list for feedback.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The housing working group is a sub committee of the EDA who has been
working on implications of the residency program of CSB /SJU. Since a number of the rental units are student
occupied, including a large structure that is only designed for student type living, there is a need to look at how to
help the conversion of these properties.
One of the outcomes of this committee was to reach out to Stearns County HRA to see if funding would be
available for conversion of rental homes to single family homes. Stearns County HRA is working on an application
for housing rehabilitation in Albany with funding through the small cities grant program (through DEED) and they
could add St. Joseph to the application if there is enough interest.
An open house was held on September 21 with two different presentations, one for owner occupied rehabilitation
and one for student residential rehabilitation. After the programs were explained, interested residents were asked
to submit a letter of intent that would be used for the application illustrating need. Stearns County HRA received a
number of letters of intent and they have indicated that the St. Joseph application would be one of the strongest
applications they have submitted.
If successful, funding would be available next summer. Stearns County HRA would be the Administrator for the
grant and typically they receive more applications the available funding. Therefore, a lottery method is used for
selecting projects to fund. Each application is reviewed to assure they meet the requirements and would then be
placed in the lottery. The grant application will either be $ 600,000 or $ 700,000. The grant program is income
based and all applicants must be at or below the Federal Income guidelines.
The application to DEED requires authorization from the governing body. Both the EDA and housing working group
have recommended the City Council authorize the submittal of an application to the Minnesota Department of
Employment and Economic Development Small Cities Development Program and authoring HRA to submit and
administer the grant on behalf of the City.
BUDGET /FISCAL IMPACT:
ATTACHMENTS: Request for Council Action 7(d):1 -2
Draft Joint Resolution 7(d):3 -4
REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Authorize the Mayor and Administrator to execute Resolution 2011 -22
supporting the submittal of the a pre - application to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic
Development Small Cities Development Program and authoring HRA to submit and administer the grant on behalf
of the City.
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RESOLUTION 2011 -022
Resolution supporting the submittal of a Pre - Application to the Department of Employment
and Economic Development's Small Cities Development Program and authorizing submittal
thereof.
Whereas, the City of St. Joseph and the Stearns County HRA have been reviewing and
studying the possibility of applying for a Small Cities Development Program grant; and
Whereas, the purpose of the grant would be to promote owner occupied rehabilitation
and student residential rental rehabilitation; and
Whereas, the St. Joseph Economic Development Authority (EDA) has reviewed and
studied the grant program; and
Whereas, the St. Joseph EDA together with the Stearns County HRA recently held an
informational meeting with the owners of rental property and homestead property within the
City; and
Whereas, the informational meetings resulted in demonstrated support for a
rehabilitation grant application; and
Whereas, the EDA at their regular meeting on September 28, 2011 approved a motion
recommending the City Council authorize and support a pre - application to the Small Cities
Development Program; and
Whereas, the Stearns County HRA shall prepare the pre - application at no cost to the
City of St. Joseph and /or the St. Joseph EDA.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ST. JOSEPH, MINNESOTA, THAT:
The City of St. Joseph, MN, hereby authorizes and supports an application to the
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Small Cities Development
Program by the Stearns County HRA on behalf of the City of St. Joseph.
Adopted this day of , 2011.
ATTEST Rick Schultz, Mayor
Judy Weyrens, Administrator
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