866 Substantial amendment to the 2014—2018 Consolidated Plan and 2016 Action Plan; National Housing Trust Fund method of distribution; public meeting

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Substantial Amendment to the 2014—2018 Consolidated Plan and 2016 Action Plan; National Housing Trust Fund Method of Distribution; Public Meeting

[46 Pa.B. 2561]
[Saturday, May 21, 2016]

 Notice is given of the public comment period to review the proposed substantial amendment to the Commonwealth's 2014—2018 Consolidated Plan and Action Plan for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. The public comment period is from May 22, 2016, through June 21, 2016.

 Annually the Department of Community and Economic Development (Department) prepares the Action Plan which outlines the Method of Distribution for Federal funding received by the Department. This Federal funding includes the new National Housing Trust Fund (HTF). The 2016 Action Plan for these funds was finalized and submitted to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for review on April 16, 2016. The Department is proposing changes to the Method of Distribution to include the HTF, which according to the Pennsylvania Citizen Participation Plan for the Consolidated Plan constitute a significant change in the distribution of funds under the program and thus necessitate a substantial amendment to the original Action Plan.

 On May 4, 2016, HUD announced funding for the Commonwealth under the HTF enacted as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Pub.L. No. 110-289) to provide funding for housing for very low and extremely low income households. HUD has announced funding for the Commonwealth in the amount of $3,862,285 for FY 2016.

 The substantial amendment to the Action Plan and supporting documentation are available for a 30-day public comment period and can be viewed on the Department's web site at http://newpa.com/. The text is available to sight- and hearing-impaired persons using technological assisted devices on the Department's web site at the previously listed link. A translation into Spanish will also be available on the Department's web site for citizen comment. The final version of the substantial amendment will be submitted to HUD no later than July 5, 2016.

 Persons who would like to provide written comment on the draft substantial amendment to the 2016 Action Plan may e-mail comments to RA-DCEDcdbg&[e-mail] or mail to the attention of Megan Snyder, Department of Community and Economic Development, Center for Compliance Monitoring and Training, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Comments must be received before 4 p.m. on June 21, 2016.

Public Meeting

 The public meeting for the substantial amendment will be conducted electronically on the Internet on Thursday, June 9, 2016. Access to the discussion on the Internet will occur between 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. This more widely available computer access will replace the onsite public meeting. The format will be more accessible than an in-person meeting because those who wish to make comment ordiscuss policy may participate directly from their electronic device or from a computer located at their public library.

 Any individual or organization may give testimony or comments on the Internet about the proposed changes to the HTF Method of Distribution for 2016 funding. The Commonwealth encourages public participation in this process.

 Anyone who wants to participate must register in advance. Contact Megan L. Snyder at [phone] to receive registration instructions for the Internet meeting at least 24 hours prior to the meeting date. If support is required during the meeting, call [phone]. The meeting will be shortened if there is no one to testify or there is minimal response.

 Persons with a disability or limited English proficiency who wish to participate in the public meeting should contact Megan L. Snyder, Department of Community and Economic Development, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225, [phone] or TDD at [phone] to discuss how the Department can accommodate their needs.

Written Comments

 Written testimony, instead of Internet testimony, must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2016. Persons who would like to provide written comment on the draft substantial amendment to the 2014—2018 Consolidated Plan or the 2016 Action Plan may e-mail comments to RA-DCEDcdbg&[e-mail] or mail to the attention of Megan L. Snyder, Department of Community and Economic Development, Center for Community Financing, 400 North Street, 4th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120.

DENNIS M. DAVIN, 
Secretary

 (Editor's Note: See 46 Pa.B. 2643 (May 21, 2016) for a related notice from the Housing Finance Agency.)

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 16-866. Filed for public inspection May 20, 2016, 9:00 a.m.]