ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Director of Community Development with a Request to APPROVE an INCUMBENCY CERTIFICATE and RESOLUTION Accepting a Grant from the ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (IHDA) for the STRONG COMMUNITIES PROGRAM (SCP), in the Amount of $45,000.00.
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BACKGROUND: The City of Peoria was awarded $45,000.00 in demolition grant funds from IHDA's Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund (APP) in a competitive grant application process. Council approved the grant in July 2021. Subsequently, the Illinois Supreme Court issued an opinion ruling the funding framework for the grant unconstitutional, closing the program funding. IHDA identified a new source of funding through the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan and intends to transition the City's grant award to the Strong Communities Program (SCP), less any APP reimbursed expenditures previously requested.
There were no expenditures incurred from the original grant funds and IHDA has awarded the City $45,000.00 as replacement demolition grant funding through SCP.
SCP funds will be used for demolition of approximately five houses in the 61605 zip code. The grant funds from IHDA will be in addition to the other resources currently allocated for property demolition.
Upon approval of the Resolution, it is anticipated that the funds will be available in April 2022.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City of Peoria will receive a grant from IHDA in the amount of $45,000.00 to demolish abandoned and vacant homes in the 61605 zip code.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: There is a continued need for additional resources to mitigate blighting influences, such as abandoned and vacant properties, in our community's neighborhoods. It is anticipated that these funds would be a welcomed resource to increase capacity to demolish such structures.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The City would have an additional $45,000 in grant funds from IHDA to utilize for demolition.
IMPACT IF DENIE...
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