The City Council on Monday held a public hearing and adopted a resolution required for City staff to formally request a change of focus for funds leftover from the Community Development Block Grant-Corona Virus funds received by the City last year.
In April 2021, the City Council accepted the $936,189 grant from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to fund activities that address the health and economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the grant funds rent, utility, and mental health assistance to low and moderate income Bartlesville residents who have been affected by COVID-19.
Much of the grant has been expended, City Planner Nancy Warring told the council on Monday. In fact, the mental health assistance portion of the project is complete, with no funds remaining in that line item.
“However, there are substantial funds remaining for rent and utility assistance, and the demand for that assistance has consistently declined over time,” Warring said.
As of Aug. 31, there is $513,045.36 in grant funds remaining, though approximately $27,667 of these funds are needed for local non-profit Concern to administer the grant through the end of the grant period, which is March 2023.
“This will cover rent and utility assistance, plus their administrative costs, which are also eligible under the grant but were not originally included in the budget,” Warring said. “This still leaves $485,378 remaining.”
Rather than returning the unspent funds in March, Warring proposed directing the funds toward a newly eligible activity that has been added to the CDBGCV Grant Program: Rehabilitation Assistance.
“This involves the rehabilitation of a commercial building or public facility to improve indoor air quality and ventilation to prevent the spread of Coronavirus and similar airborne illness or disease,” Warring said. “This could include, but is not limited to, replacing the HVAC system, replacing other systems that affect air quality, or adding operable windows. The facilities must either serve low to moderate income clientele or be located in a low to moderate income area.”
For more information, contact Warring at newarring@cityofbartlesville.org or 918.338.4243.