The city of Duluth annually receives substantial funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist persons with low and moderate incomes (up to $42,550 for a family of four) and neighborhoods where a majority of low and moderate income people reside. Prior to awarding these funds, a comprehensive citizen participation process occurs, which includes a general community needs assessment as the first step.
Public forums are hosted by the city's Community Development Division to hear from Duluth residents and service providers about community needs.
Those needs generally fall into four categories: Economic development including job training, affordable housing, public facility improvements and public services. The schedule of forums is as follows:
- Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Central Hillside Community Center, 12 E. First St.
- Thursday, 6:30 to 8 p.m., City Center West, 5830 Grand Ave.
- May 11, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Harrison Community Center, 3002 W. Third St.
- May 13, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Grant Elementary School, 10278th Ave. E.
These public forums are also the first step in the city's preparation of the 2005 Action Plan, a component of the 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development. This plan outlines the city's assessment of community needs and strategies to meet those needs during the coming HUD fiscal year. The plan also serves as the city's application to HUD for CDBG, Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds and Emergency Shelter Grants Program (ESGP) funds (both the HOME and ESGP programs are strictly for housing and homeless needs).
If anyone is unable to attend a forum but wants to comment do so in one of the following ways: send written comments to Community Development, Room 407, City Hall Duluth, MN 55802; fax comments to Community Development & Housing to (218) 730-5915, or e-Mail comments to
khamre@ci.duluth.mn.us
.
