The 2016 Community Development Block Grant Program - Proposed Program Statement which outlines the programs planned for the 2016 grant year has been released by the Maine Office of Community Development. Changes include a new pilot program to provide resources to support communities’ efforts combatting the drug epidemic and the associated crimes that can cripple neighborhoods, titled the Safe Neighborhood Program. There is no funding allocated for the Downtown Revitalization or the Downtown Center programs. The Downtown Revitalization is in the program statement so if resources become available applications can be taken for that as well as the Public Facilities program which also does not have an allocation in 2016.
A public hearing will be held on November 4th in Augusta at 11:00 am Cross Office Building 3rd floor, 111 Sewall Street. The Public Comment period ends November 14th at 4pm. Written comments can be submitted electronically to Deborah.Johnson@maine.gov prior to that day.