Township Must Decide Where to Distribute $71K in Grant Monies

No matter how creative the accounting, it is impossible to divide $7,080 into $43,846. However, Macomb Township trustees must figure out how to do just that in order to allocate the township’s community development block grants for 2012.

Although the township received $71,500 in CDBG funds for the 2012 fiscal year, only $7,080 of that can be distributed among public service organizations. The remaining $60,775 is reserved solely to fund brick and mortar projects, such as the Homebuyer Assistance Program, Emergency Rehab Assistance and .

As of Feb. 8, more than 20 local organizations had requested a portion of the $7,080, with the combined requests totaling $43,846.

Township trustees must decide which of these organizations will receive funding by the Feb. 22 board meeting.

In an effort to influence this decision, representatives from several of the requesting organizations were present at the Feb. 8 township meeting to make a personal plea on behalf of their agency or nonprofit.

“These funds would provide a four-part self-esteem workshop with a total of eight hands-on hours to (50) girls in your community … for free,” said Karen Palka, whose organization, A Beautiful Me, is hoping for $2,150 in CDBG funds. 

“Hope Center is Macomb County’s largest client-choice food pantry. Last year we served 1,472 Macomb Township residents with approximately 37,000 pounds of free food,” added Tim Stockard, whose organization has requested $2,000 to put toward the purchase of food.

Other funding hopefuls include St. Vincent de Paul with $10,000, Samaritan House with $5,000, MCREST with $1,500 and Family Youth Interventions with $226, among others.

Once the public service funds are allocated, the township will turn to the brick and mortar funds, of which $60,775 is available for funding.

Of these funds, the county has instructed Macomb Township to reserve $27,412.50 to make a one-time set of emergency repairs to approximately 10 deteriorating properties owned and occupied by low-income families in the township.

The Macomb County Housing Rehabilitation staff will administer these funds, which can only be used on repairs and not the construction of new housing.

The brick and mortar funds will also be used to make additional renovations to the senior center and potentially begin construction on a vehicle garage for the township’s Dial-A-Ride buses.

The Community Development Services of the Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development receives CDBG funds through the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Communities must use these funds on programs and projects that benefit low- and moderate-income individuals.