MAY/JUNE 1996
MAY/JUNE 1996
In this issue . . . States Celebrate National CD Week. The states of Arizona and Virginia celebrate National Community Development Week, with site visits, award ceremonies to highlight the efforts of the Community Development Block Grant Program.
States Celebrate National CD Week
For the past ten years states and localities have been celebrating National Community
Development Week. Conceptualized and initiated by the National Community Development
Association, this annual, weeklong event held during the Congressional Easter Recess,
highlights and provides public awareness of the triumphs and efforts of the Community
Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). Each year, activities and media coverage is more
extensive. National CD Week provides an excellent opportunity for states, localities,
elected officials and members of the general public to understand and recognize the
benefits of the CDBG program and why it has become the basis, the very cornerstone, from
which community development is defined.
Arizona
The Arizona National CD Week celebration is put together by a statewide committee consisting of representatives from metropolitan areas, the state CDBG program, the prior year's host community and the current year's host community. The committee's intent is to involve as many grantees and administrators as possible to participate in the celebration. These include, NAHRO regional representative as cosponsor, the Councils of Governments, the ten entitlement communities, the state, and Indian tribes and HUD. Committee members assist the host community by assuming responsibility for various tasks such as designing and ordering awards, mailing invitations, arranging for speakers, determining display needs, and any other task that can be done from outside the host community.
To the greatest extent possible, expenses are allocated among the participating entities. Forexample, the state CDBG program may mail all the invitations, provide a photographer for the awards celebration, and will pay for its own awards, and NAHRO may assist with the cost of the reception. The site for the celebration varies and may be an entitlement or nonentitle ment community.
The state of Arizona CDBG Division sends out a package of information to all of its
Councils of Government, that includes the following instruction:
This year was the ninth celebration of National CD Week in Arizona and the third time
that a nonentitlement community hosted the event. This year's celebration was
cosponsored by the City of Yuma and Yuma County on April 4th. Participants were treated
to a 21/2 hour morning tour of local CDBG projects and those in outlying areas. The
awards ceremony included keynote speakers; Terry Goddard, the Arizona State Office
Coordinator for HUD, Sara Goetzen Dial, Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce,
and Steve Capobres, Director of Housing and Infrastructure Development at the Department
of Commerce. The Department of Commerce presents awards for outstanding CDBG projects, programs and
persons who greatly contribute to the effectiveness of programs. This years awards were
given to Council of Governments as well as one given by the State CDBG Program to a person
demonstrating outstanding service within :he community. Councils of government can
nominate one project within their region. The process for nomination is determined by the
Council, however the criteria most likely focuses on: the innovative character of the
project; the significance of the community; the outstanding contribution of a person who
assisted in the design of implementation of the project(s); or the outstanding
contribution of a private, nonprofit organization or business who assisted in the design
of implementation of the project(s). The following are the recipients of the awards given
to the various grantees throughout the state. The 1995 Statewide Award The Department of Commerce statewide award for 1995 goes to the Nancy Marcanti, CDBG
Program Director, Central Arizona Association of Governments, for her tireless effort and
contributions to the CDBG Program. Nancy has greatly contributed to the communities she
serves within her region as well as the entire state. She is dedicated to assisting rural
Arizona to "be all it can be" and no one even tries to count the hours she
spends on CD activities. She has become an expert on many issues including accessibility
(504 and ADA), special surveys, labor standards, procurement and contracting and 208 water
quality planning. She has designed and conducted numerous successful workshops that are
attended by communities from all four corners of Arizona. The materials she has developed
have been "borrowed" by entities throughout the state, including the Department
of Commerce. Lastly, she was a pioneer in the development of the "project" based
Rural Infrastructure Committee Meeting. She completed the marketing and information
collection and facilitated the first such event. Because of her expertise and dedication,
she has gained the respect of all who work with her in the CDBG program. The 1995 CAAG Award The 1995 CDBG award for the CAAG Region goes to the Town of Payson for its outstanding
Senior Center Van, Architectural Barrier Removal and Street Improvement project. This
project included $244,000 in CDBG funds with $108,000 in matching funds from the town to
remove architectural barriers in Rumsey Park including replacing drinking fountains,
installing ramps throughout the park, redesigning the restrooms to make them accessible
and installing accessible playground equipment. Additionally, approximately 4, 100 linear
feet of street improvements were completed in a low income neighborhood. Lastly, a van was
purchased to provide transportation services to disabled and senior citizens. The 1995 SEAGO Award The 1995 CDBG award for the SEAGO Region goes to Graham County for its Ash Creek Road
Improvement Project. The project involved $325,000 in CDBG funds, combined with over $1
million in other public and private sector funds for the reconstruction and paving of a
three mile section of Ash Creek Road in Bonita, Arizona. The completed roadway provide
access to the site of Bonita Nurseries, Inc., a hydroponic beefsteak tomato greenhouse
facility. Bonita Nurseries currently operates a 20 acre greenhouse, which will be expanded
to 140 acres when expansion plans are completed. The nursery has recently completed a $1
million packing and shipping facility. Since the completion of the first two phases of
Bonita's development plan, it has provided 125 jobs of which 113 are held by low and
moderateincome persons. Bonita Nurseries has become the second largest private sector
employer in Graham County generating a $1.4 million payroll. The 1995 WACOG Award The 1995 CDBG award for the WACOG Region goes to Shoreline Construction Company Inc.
For its outstanding contribution in the construction of Bullhead City's Domestic Violence
Shelter. The City of Bullhead received CDBG funds in the amount of $147,000 to build a
fivebedroom domestic violence shelter large enough to house 15 persons. The construction
contract for the shelter was awarded to Shoreline Construction Company. Gary Frandses,
President of Shoreline, worked very closely with the project manager and the nonprofit
that operates the facility, and made whatever changes needed without requesting a change
order or cost variance. When the project ran out of funds and could not meet the costs for
the window coverings, Gary stepped in to donate the items. He was committed to completing
a project that would benefit the community in which he lives. Site Visit to Virginia's Eastern Shore As a part of COSCDA's coverage of members' activities during National CD Week, COSCDA
staff, along with HUD officials, Virginia CDBG and AccomackNorthampton Planning District
staff went on a tour of projects on Virginia's eastern shore. Virginia's eastern shore, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful areas in the
commonwealth is also one of its poorest. The natural beauty of the area, with its coastal
influences provides many summer and year round homes. The eastern shore is rich in cultural history, with many families dating back over 300
years, is an isolated part of the state with many Iowtech industries that limit job
opportunities and provide very little in job growth for the little work that exists.
Tables 1 and 2 provides AccomackNorthampton Planning District's demographics as compared
to the commonwealth of Virginia. Because the cost of living is low many people choose the
eastern shore as a retirement area. Table 1 Eastern Shore Housing Characteristics Total Housing Units #Lacking Complete Plumbing # Lacking Complete Kitchen Facilities Lacking Sewer/Septic Service 15860 1,183 (7.53%) 775 (4.9%) 1.098 (6.9%) 6183 753 (12.2%) 488 (7.9%) 610 (9.9%) 22023 1.836 (8.3%) 1,263 (5.7%) 1,708 (7.8%) 2496334 46,119 (1.8%) 33,097 (1.3%) 48,138 (1.9%) Table 2 Eastern Shore Poverty Levels by Race and Gender Total Population # Below Poverty Level Percent Black/White Percent Female/Male 31,703 6,213 (19.6%) 58% / 42% 61% / 39% 13,061 3,395 (26.6%) 72% / 28% 59% / 41% 44,764 9,608 (21.2%) 63% / 37% 60% / 40% 6,187,358 631,111 (10.2%) 40%/60% 59%/41% As the demographic data indicates, Virginia's Eastern Shore is an area that could use
much public assistance. Virginia's CDBG and HOME programs have been very active in
addressing the obvious need in this area of the state. The following are three of the
projects that were visited. Town of Exmore/Northampton County New Road Community Revitalization Project 1995 In 1995 the New Road Community Development Group of Exmore, a private nonprofit
corporation formed by the residents of New Road, purchased all of the rental properties
owned by the two major landlords in their neighborhood with a $338,000 loan from the
McAuley Institute. The Town of Exmore and Northampton Count are assisting the Community in
their revitalization efforts by combining two CDBG projects in the neighborhood which will
provide housing rehabilitation, new housing construction, water, sewer, and street
improvements, and firsttime indoor plumbing for over 60 families. A major emphasis of
the project is to create homeownership opportunities whenever possible. Source of Funds Project Description This project involves the rehabilitation of 40 housing units; the substantial
reconstruction of two units; demolition of 45 occupied and 13 vacant units; construction
of 51 singlefamily and multifamily units; extension of the existing water line;
construction of a sewage collection system and mass drain field, construction of new
streets and drainage improvements. When completed, this project will provide housing,
water, wastewater and street improvements to 93 low and moderateincome families. Accomack County Withams Crossroads Comprehensive Community Project Development
Project 1994 The Withams Crossroads Comprehensive Community Development Project was designed to
address the community needs identified by the Withams Neighborhood Needs Assessment
Committee. The project includes rehabilitation of 25 owneroccupied substandard homes, including
septic systems to 13 families who did not have indoor bathrooms. Homeownership
opportunities will be provided to 10 families renting substandard units in a dilapidated
trailer park. The project will also provide wells to 22 families who share water with
their neighbors, street and drainage improvements. Source of Funds Project Description
Town of Nassawadox Sawmill Apartments 1992 In 1992, the Town of Nassawadox received CDBG funding in the amount of $505,300 to
provide site development activities for the Sawmill Apartments. The project will replace
14 substandard housing units with 14 new units of subsidized housing. The town devised a
strategy of demolition, new construction and housing rehabilitation to deal with the most
severe substandard conditions along Rt. 13. The project is a cooperative effort between a
priovate developer and the town. Source of Funds Description of Activities Housing Construction
Site Development
If you are interested in receiving the most current information on the
stateadministered Community Development Block Grant program in a specific state or
nationally, e-mail Chandra Western at cwestern@coscda.org
with the following information:
State CDBG Update is published bimonthly by the Council of State Community Development
Agencies (COSCDA) under cooperative agreement #DCBG000295 with the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the
policies or positions of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, COSCDA, or
COSCDA members. Council of State Community Development Agencies ©1996 COSCDA. This publication cannot be reproduced in part or in whole without
express written permission from COSCDA (ISSN 10677046)
Accomack
Northampton
Eastern Shore
Virginia
Accomack
Northampton
Eastern Shore
Virginia
Virginia Community Development Block Grant
$1,750,000
Indoor Plumbing Rehabilitation
500,000
Virginia Housing Development Authority
442,000
HomeSTART
106,000
Virginia Water Project
25,000
VESEEEHC Federal Revolving Funds
89,000
Federal Home Loan Band Affordable Housing Program
15,000
McAuley Institute
53,477
Other construction financing
1,601,376
TOTAL
$4,581,853
Virginia Community Development Block Grant
$1,207,250
Local Private Mortgages
216,000
Virginia Water Project, Inc.
15,000
TOTAL
$1,438,525
Virginia Community Development Block Grant
$505,300
Virginia HOME Funds
486,905
Local Match
170,894
TOTAL
$1,163,099
Hall of the States
444 North Capitol Street Suite 224
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 3936435
(202) 3933107 FAX
Back to Publications Home Page
Back to COSCDA Home Page 