414 Summary notice of the availability of the draft 2016 Annual Action Plan; public hearing

Summary Notice of the Availability of the Draft 2016 Annual Action Plan; Public Hearing

[46 Pa.B. 1326]
[Saturday, March 12, 2016]

 The Department of Community and Economic Development (Department) announces the availability of the Commonwealth's draft Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2016 Annual Action Plan (Plan). The Plan is submitted to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the annual application for Federal funds administered by the Commonwealth. The HUD funding programs covered by the Plan and administered by the Department are the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnership (HOME), the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs, Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). Also covered by the Plan is the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program which the Department of Health administers and new to the Plan this year is the National Housing Trust Fund which will be administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.

 This summary is designed to provide an opportunity for citizens, local governmental officials and interested organizations in this Commonwealth to comment about the Plan. Comments may be electronically submitted to RA-DCEDcdbg&[e-mail]. Written comments should be submitted to Megan L. Snyder, Center for Compliance, Monitoring and Training, Department of Community and Economic Development, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225. Electronic and written comments must be received by 4 p.m. on April 12, 2016, to be included as testimony in the Plan.

Purpose

 The Plan takes the strategy developed in the Consolidated Plan and applies it to the administration of the CDBG, HOME, ESG, CDBG-DR, NSP, HOPWA and National Housing Trust Fund programs for 2016. HUD must approve the Plan for the Commonwealth to receive funding under the identified HUD programs.

Content

 The Plan will include the Methods of Distribution for all Federal programs, as well as the goals and outcomes expected during the 2016 calendar year. Be- sides the Department's web site, www.newpa.com, the approved plan will be able to be viewed on HUD's web site at https://www.hudexchange.info/consolidated-plan/ con-plans-aaps-capers/.

Public Review

 The Plan is available on the Internet or in hard copy for public comment from March 12, 2016, through April 12, 2016, or at the following locations:

County offices, the Department's regional offices and this Commonwealth's 27 district libraries: call [phone] for locations.

CD copies of the Plan can be obtained by calling [phone].

Written Comments

 Comments may be electronically submitted to RA-DCEDcdbg&[e-mail]. Written comments should be submitted to Megan L. Snyder, Center for Compliance, Monitoring and Training, Department of Community and Economic Development, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225. Written comments must be received by 4 p.m. on April 12, 2016, to be included as testimony in the Plan.

Public Hearings

 A public hearing is scheduled for April 6, 2016, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the Plan. The public hearing will be conducted electronically by means of the Internet. The format will be more accessible in that persons who wish to make a comment may participate directly from their personal computer or from any computer location that has Internet access, such as their public library or by telephone.

 Individuals or organizations may give testimony or comments by means of the Internet. Comments will be accepted on the content of the Commonwealth's draft Plan, and the process by which the public input is gathered. The Commonwealth encourages public participation in this process.

 Individuals who wish to participate must register in advance. Contact Jonathan Cherry at RA-DCEDcdbg&[e-mail] to receive registration instructions for the Internet meeting at least 24 hours prior to the meeting date. During the hearing, if support is required, call [phone].

 Individuals who have a disability or who need interpretive services and wishes to attend the public hearing should contact Megan L. Snyder, 4th Floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225, [phone] or TDD [phone], to discuss how the Department can accommodate their needs. This must be done at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.

DENNIS M. DAVIN, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 16-414. Filed for public inspection March 11, 2016, 9:00 a.m.]