1. Public hearing-Embden Comm Center CDBG funding

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS ASSESSMENT Pursuant to federal law, CDBG applicants must identify their community development and housing needs, including the needs of very low and low income persons, and the activities to be undertaken to meet such needs. The purpose of the community needs assessment or problem identification process is to have communities ascertain their most pressing problems and critical needs, both on a community-wide basis and of the selected target area. Such a process should promote better coordinated strategies for addressing local needs, particularly as they affect very low and low income persons. A standard format for undertaking the Community Development Needs Assessment has been developed by the Association of Regional Planning Councils in North Dakota and the Division of Community Services. While applicants must utilize the following form, the methodology for obtaining the information can be one of a number of techniques. For example, some local governments have assigned the needs assessment task to an existing local planning committee. Others have formed special short-term committees or utilized community-wide town meetings, or community surveys. Whatever approach is followed, the applicant must, at a minimum, meet the citizen participation requirement of conducting at least one public hearing prior to submitting a grant application. The community development needs assessment should be consistent with the application. While the proposed project in the community’s CDBG application does not have to be the highest priority community need, the rationale for the activity’s selection must be present. The reasons for such, could include the availability of other, more appropriate local, state or federal resources, which would justify submitting a CDBG application for other than the top-ranked community need. The completed form must be adopted by the applicants governing board only after the public has been given the opportunity to respond and provide input at a public meeting held no earlier than 180 days prior to submission of the CDBG application. Questions concerning the needs assessment process can be directed to the local regional planning council or to the North Dakota Division of Community Services (328-5300).