Community Development Block Grant

U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Paul S. Sarbanes, both D-Md, announced Thursday that the city of Hagerstown will get $1.17 million in Community Development Block Grant funds. The news came as no surprise to George Andreve, manager of the Hagerstown Community Development Department, who said he has known since about December the city would get that amount of money. The annual allotment of grant funds already has been included in the city's budgets, Andreve said.

City may use Realtor to sell homes Hagerstown's Single Family Homeownership Program could begin using professional Realtors to sell homes. The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved changing the program to allow for the hiring of a Realtor for the homes. City Community Development Manager George Andreve, whose department oversees the program, said he will seek bids from area Realtors for the work, which the city now does on its own. Any contract with a Realtor would have to be approved by the mayor and council, Andreve said.

Scheduled meetings this week of the Washington County Commissioners and Hagerstown Mayor and Council (the Washington County Board of Education is not scheduled to meet):   WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS County Administration Building 100 W. Washington St., Hagerstown Tuesday, May 14, 1:30 p.m. Agenda • 1:30 p.m.: Older Americans Month proclamation • 1:40 p.m.: Building Safety Month • 1:50 p.m.: Real property acquisition - 1229 Frederick St., Hagerstown • 2 p.m.: Real property acquisition - map 49 parcel 80 • 2:10 p.m.: Real property conveyance - Brookemeade Drive, Hagerstown • 2:20 p.m.: Rejection of bids - one aircraft rescue and fire fighting truck • 2:30 p.m.: Budget discussion • 3 p.m.: Closed session (to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, compensation, and/or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; to discuss other personnel matters that affect one or more specific individuals; and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice on a legal matter)

waynesboro@herald-mail.com WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Streets in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and downtown revitalization projects will share the biggest chunks of the $200,799 allocation in Community Development Block Grant funds Waynesboro expects to get this year. The Borough Council approved the division of funds Wednesday night. Street improvements were earmarked for $60,000, and downtown revitalization will get $60,533 this year, according to the resolution approved by the council.

Community Development Block Grant money will be spent to spiff up downtown Waynesboro following a vote Wednesday by the Borough Council. The council agreed to seek more than $195,000 in block grant funds for a handful of programs, including improving street lights, curbs and facades of downtown buildings. Property owners could receive money for improvements by grants, low-interest loans or partial payment toward the total cost of improvement projects, said Borough Manager Lloyd Hamberger.

CHAMBERSBURG, PA. Ten groups have filed applications with the Borough of Chambersburg for Community Development Block Grant funding, but the pie is smaller this year than in 2005 and could get smaller in 2007. Borough Manager Eric Oyer said Thursday that funding is down 12 percent, or about $38,000, from 2005. The Borough Council held hearings on applications totaling $523,726 Monday, although the borough's CDBG funding for this year is $267,016. -- $50,000 for street improvements.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin announced his presentation Tuesday of two transportation enhancement grants to Charles Town, W.Va., and Martinsburg, both of the city's mayors confirmed. Manchin presented a $400,000 check to Charles Town city clerk Joe Cosentini for phase two of the municipality's "gateway" project along Washington Street. In Charleston, W.Va., for interim meetings of the Legislature, state Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley, said he received a $149,600 check on behalf of Martinsburg for the city's East John Street streetscape project.

A public hearing will be held April 11 about the proposed use of more than $500,000 in federal funding by the city of Martinsburg and Eastern Panhandle Housing Consortium. The hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. in the J. Oakley Seibert Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall at 232 N. Queen St., Martinsburg Community Development Director Patricia E. McMillan said Thursday. The city intends to submit its 2013 fiscal year annual action plan to disperse $232,381 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Grant would pay for $800,000 in ADA improvements Washington County is planning to bring its administration building on West Washington Street in Hagerstown into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. The county Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution to authorize county staff to apply for $800,000 through the Community Development Block Grant program for fiscal year 2013-14. Jim Hovis, director of the county's Office of Community Grant Management, said ADA improvements at 120-128 W. Washington St., include new ramps, doors, railings and upgrades to restrooms to make it more accessible.

Scheduled meetings this week of the Washington County Commissioners and Hagerstown Mayor and Council (the Washington County Board of Education is not scheduled to meet):   WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS County Administration Building 100 W. Washington St., Hagerstown Tuesday, May 14, 1:30 p.m. Agenda • 1:30 p.m.: Older Americans Month proclamation • 1:40 p.m.: Building Safety Month • 1:50 p.m.: Real property acquisition - 1229 Frederick St., Hagerstown • 2 p.m.: Real property acquisition - map 49 parcel 80 • 2:10 p.m.: Real property conveyance - Brookemeade Drive, Hagerstown • 2:20 p.m.: Rejection of bids - one aircraft rescue and fire fighting truck • 2:30 p.m.: Budget discussion • 3 p.m.: Closed session (to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, compensation, and/or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; to discuss other personnel matters that affect one or more specific individuals; and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice on a legal matter)

A public hearing will be held April 11 about the proposed use of more than $500,000 in federal funding by the city of Martinsburg and Eastern Panhandle Housing Consortium. The hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. in the J. Oakley Seibert Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall at 232 N. Queen St., Martinsburg Community Development Director Patricia E. McMillan said Thursday. The city intends to submit its 2013 fiscal year annual action plan to disperse $232,381 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

HAGERSTOWN -- The Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday held a public hearing to discuss the way city officials plan to use federally funded Community Development Block Grants. Community Development Manager Larry Bayer said the city has about $2.98 million in available funds. Some of the programs in which city officials have proposed spending the money range from $500,000 to build affordable housing to $5,100 to help feed people with AIDS, he said. Hagerstown resident Ron Lytle asked the council how it decides to spend the money.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- There were fewer applicants for less money Thursday as the Franklin County Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing for its 2008 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The Metal Township Municipal Authority, Quincy Township and the Val-Med Center in Dry Run, Pa., were the three applicants for the $402,000 available this year to the county for projects to benefit low- and moderate-income communities and the disabled. No representatives from any of the applicants were at the hearing.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin announced his presentation Tuesday of two transportation enhancement grants to Charles Town, W.Va., and Martinsburg, both of the city's mayors confirmed. Manchin presented a $400,000 check to Charles Town city clerk Joe Cosentini for phase two of the municipality's "gateway" project along Washington Street. In Charleston, W.Va., for interim meetings of the Legislature, state Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley, said he received a $149,600 check on behalf of Martinsburg for the city's East John Street streetscape project.

CHAMBERSBURG, PA. Ten groups have filed applications with the Borough of Chambersburg for Community Development Block Grant funding, but the pie is smaller this year than in 2005 and could get smaller in 2007. Borough Manager Eric Oyer said Thursday that funding is down 12 percent, or about $38,000, from 2005. The Borough Council held hearings on applications totaling $523,726 Monday, although the borough's CDBG funding for this year is $267,016. -- $50,000 for street improvements.

The City of Hagerstown and two private property owners will benefit from new money that was announced this week. The city will receive a $1.09 million Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to a release from U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett's office. Together with unspent money received in last year's federal grant and other program income, the city expects to spend $2.9 million this year as part of its block grant program, which goes to commercial improvements, property purchases, housing and other uses.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - Since no bank teller is likely to cash an oversized, baby blue $495,000 check, Patricia McMillan said she'll likely use the symbolic check, presented to the City of Martinsburg Friday morning by U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, as "corporate art" in her office. The money represented Martinsburg's share of the national Community Development Block Grant program. Plans are already in place to use the funding to replace a bridge and repair an inadequate sewer system that sometimes causes flooding.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Streets in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and downtown revitalization projects will share the biggest chunks of the $200,799 allocation in Community Development Block Grant funds Waynesboro expects to get this year. The Borough Council approved the division of funds Wednesday night. Street improvements were earmarked for $60,000, and downtown revitalization will get $60,533 this year, according to the resolution approved by the council.