City Hosting Public Hearing on CDBG Funding

Opportunity for residents to provide comment on the use of CDBG funding on September 19 at 6pm via Zoom and in-person at City Hall 

(MEDFORD) — On Thursday, September 19 at 6pm, the City of Medford’s Office of Planning, Development and Sustainability will hold a public hearing to review the City’s annual Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for last year’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. The City encourages all interested residents to attend the hearing and provide thoughts and comments on the CAPER and the City’s future use of CDBG funds. The hearing will be held in-person in Room 207 at Medford City Hall, 85 George P. Hassett Drive, and through Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88674097106.  

CDBG is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is used to fund local community development activities aimed at improving the living environment for low- and moderate-income residents and expanding economic opportunities. Last year HUD awarded the City $1,423,649 in CDBG funding. Most of those funds were used for large projects, including the creation of the new universally accessible playground at the McGlynn School and work on renovations at Morrison Park and Logan Park. This grant also helped fund street improvements on Pinkert Street, plans for work on Gourley Road and Dwyer Circle, and the replacement of the station slab at the Engine 3 Fire Station. 

The City is also able to use a portion of its CDBG funds to provide grants to nonprofit organizations serving low-income Medford residents. Programs funded last year included transportation and other services for seniors and individuals with disabilities; afterschool childcare; support services for individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s; eviction prevention and other legal advice and advocacy for tenants, as well as rent and utility assistance; English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) programming; and access to nutritious food through food pantries and grocery delivery services. 

Copies of the CAPER, the CDBG Annual Action Plan, and Five-Year Consolidated Plan are all available at www.medfordma.org/pds and in City Hall, Room 308. Written comments on the CAPER may be shared with Laurel Siegel, CDBG & Grants Manager, at the Office of Planning, Development & Sustainability, Room 308, City Hall, 85 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA 02155 or at lsiegel@medford-ma.gov. Please submit comments by no later than 5pm on September 24, 2024. 

If you need reasonable accommodation to attend or participate in this hearing, please contact Frances Nwajei by email at fnwajei@medford-ma.gov or by phone at 781-393-2439. 

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