Residents asked to cite their community’s needs for survey

Survey used for Community Development Block Grant program

The city of Mentor is asking residents to let it know what’s important to them by filling out a Community Needs Survey.

The information will be considered for the future use of the federally funded Community Development Block Grant program.

The city is gathering opinions and data to produce the three-year CDBG Consolidated Plan, which will guide the use of grant funds in the next five-year

cycle.

The range of allowable activities that may be eligible for funding include housing and homelessness, social services, economic development, and public and community facility improvements.

The clientele for such activities are primarily lowincome residents and families, the handicapped, those who are homeless and others in crisis, veterans, seniors and youths.

This year, the city will receive $153,766 in CDBG

money. Last year’s total was $175,076.

The grants, via U.S. Housing and Urban Development programs, may be allocated in the following ways:

• Housing — Supporting homeless and housing initiatives, rehabilitation, home ownership and affordability, housing accessibility and housing for those with specific needs

• Public services — Recreational needs, seniors and youths, health services, fair housing advocacy, services for people with needs related to age, medical, income or situational status (eg. in-crisis, drugs or alcohol, etc.)

• Economic development — Business assistance to create jobs and undertake building improvements

• Community facilities — parks and facilities development with handicapped accessibility

• Public improvements — Streetscape and other physical improvements in the community

The geographic boundaries are within the city of Mentor, but public service providers serving Mentor residents should also complete the survey.

The deadline for the survey is June 17. The survey can be obtained at the Planning & Development Department at Mentor Municipal Center, 8500 Civic Center Blvd., or accessed at cityofmentor.com/2019community-needs-survey.