1589 Action Plan for 1998

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Action Plan for 1998

[27 Pa.B. 5099]

   The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) proposes to adopt the Commonwealth's Action Plan for (FFY) 1998 and the program year which starts on January 1, 1998. The 1998 Action Plan is an annual update of the Commonwealth's Consolidated Plan for FFY 1995 through 1999. The Action Plan contained herein is the third annual update of the Consolidated Plan submitted by the Commonwealth.

   The 1998 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 changes that DCED implemented in the application process concerning the three programs administered by DCED. The programs administered by DCED are the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and the Emergency Shelter Grant(ESG) programs. The Department of Health (DOH) administers the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. No changes other than the reorganization of DOH are reported concerning the HOPWA program.

   This summary is designed to provide an opportunity to citizens, local government 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 November 3, 1997.

   In addition, a public hearing has been scheduled as follows: October 21, 1997, Department of Community and Economic Development, Room 321 Forum Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

   Anyone who wants to speak must call to schedule a time to give oral testimony at the hearing. This hearing will be shortened if no one is scheduled to testify or if there is minimal response. To schedule oral testimony at the hearing, contact Aldona Kartorie at [phone] by October 16, 1997.

   Anyone who has a disability and wishes to attend this meeting and requires an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to participate in the proceeding should contact Aldona Kartorie, Room 509, Forum Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120, [phone] to discuss how DCED may best accommodate those needs. For anyone with a hearing disability, text telephone (TT) 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 1998 Action Plan updates the 5-Year Consolidated Plan by describing how the programs will be implemented in 1998. The Action Plan must be approved by HUD to receive direct funding under most HUD housing and community development programs or to permit the funds to go to projects and organizations within the State. 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 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 Commonwealth communities will undertake.

Content

   The major change discussed in the Plan is the Single Application Process implemented by DCED on July 1, 1997. No other major changes have occurred and all priorities are intact. DCED has undertaken the initiative, for the first time ever, to apply for Super NOFA funding.

Public Review

   The Consolidated Plan is available for public comment now through November 4, 1997 at the locations listed:

   1.  County Offices.

   2.  DCED Regional Offices:

   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].

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

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

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

   3.  Pennsylvania's 28 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 Service, 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. 97-1589. Filed for public inspection October 3, 1997, 9:00 a.m.]