1610 1999 Action Plan summary

1999 Action Plan Summary

[28 Pa.B. 4957]

   The Department of Community and Economic Development (Department) proposes to adopt the Commonwealth's Action Plan for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 1999 and the Program Year that starts on January 1, 1999. The 1999 Action Plan is an update of the Commonwealth's Consolidated Plan for FFY 1995-1999. The Action Plan discussed herein is the fourth annual update of the Consolidated Plan submitted by the Commonwealth.

   The 1999 Action Plan (Plan) updates documents previously submitted to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These documents include the nonhousing community development plan and any changes that the Department may have implemented concerning the three programs administered by the Department. The programs administered by the Department are the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) and the Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) programs. The Department of Health administers the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program.

   This summary is designed to provide an opportunity to citizens, local governmental officials and interested organizations of the Commonwealth to comment about the Plan. Written comments should be submitted to Aldona Kartorie, Office of Community Development and Housing, Department of Community and Economic Development, Room 509 Forum Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Written comments must be received by October 19, 1998, to be included as testimony or by November 4, 1998, for inclusion in the Action Plan.

   The public hearing has been scheduled for October 20, 1998, at the Forum Building, Room 321, Walnut Street and Commonwealth Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17120, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

*  Note: The public meeting may be shortened if there is minimal response.

   Persons who want to speak must call to schedule a time to give oral testimony at the hearing. The hearing will be shortened if there is no one to testify or if there is minimal response. Please contact Aldona Kartorie at [phone] to schedule oral testimony no later then October 19, 1998.

   Persons who have a disability and wish to attend the public meeting should contact Aldona Kartorie, Room 509 Forum Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120, [phone], to discuss how the Department can accommodate their needs. Text telephone calls can be placed through the Pennsylvania Relay System at [phone]. Calls will be relayed to the Department's number listed above.

Purpose

   The Commonwealth's 1999 Action Plan is the last update to the 5-year 1995-1999 Consolidated Plan. This Action Plan will describe how the programs will be administered in 1999. HUD must approve this Plan for the Commonwealth and organizations within the State to receive funding under most HUD housing and community development programs. Applicants for funding from Federal Housing programs must obtain certification that their proposed use of HUD assistance will be consistent with the applicable Plan for the area. The Consolidated Plan creates a unified strategy for housing and community development programs as well as the necessary linkages for building successful neighborhoods and communities.

   The Plan will have a major impact on the types, location and number of affordable housing units generated and preserved in this Commonwealth as well as the infrastructure and public facilities, services and other economic and community development initiatives that Pennsylvania communities will undertake.

Content

   There are no major changes discussed in the Plan.

Public Review

   The Consolidated Plan is available for public comment now through November 4, 1998 at the following locations:

   1.  County Offices

   2.  Department Regional Offices:

   Southeast Regional Office, 908 State Office Building, Broad and Spring Garden Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19130, [phone].

   Northeast Regional Office, 201 Samters Building, 101 Penn Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503, [phone].

   Northcentral and Southcentral Regional Offices, 576 Forum Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120, [phone].

   Southwest Regional Office, 413 State Office Building, 300 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, [phone].

   Northwest Regional Office, Third Floor, Rothrock Building, 121 West 10th Street, Erie, PA 16501, [phone].

   3.  Pennsylvania's 27 District Libraries:

   B. F. Jones Memorial Library, Aliquippa

   Allentown Public Library, Allentown

   Centre County Library, Bellefonte

   Bethlehem Area Public Library, Bethlehem

   Conococheague District Library, Chambersburg

   Clarion District Library, Clarion

   Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown

   Easton Area Public Library, Easton

   Erie County Library, Erie

   Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg

   Cambria County Library, Johnstown

   Lancaster County Library, Lancaster

   Delaware County Library, Brookhaven

   Monessen Public Library, Monessen

   New Castle Public Library, New Castle

   Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library,
      Norristown

   Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia

   Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh

   Pottsville Free Public Library, Pottsville

   Reading Public Library, Reading

   Scranton Public Library, Scranton

   Warren Public Library, Warren

   Citizen's Library, Washington

   Chester County Library, Exton

   Osterhout Free Library, Wilkes-Barre

   James V. Brown Library, Williamsport

   Martin Memorial Library, York

   4.  Audio Cassette copies of the Consolidated Plan can be obtained by contacting the Tri-County Branch of the Pennsylvania Association of the Blind: Patricia Summers, Coordinator, Harrisburg Area Radio reading Services, 1800 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102, [phone].

   The Plan will be made available again at these same locations following HUD approval.

SAMUEL A. MCCULLOUGH,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-1610. Filed for public inspection October 2, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]