Substantial Amendment to the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan, Program Year 2019 Action Plan, and Citizen Participation Plan For Will County

The following is a summary and draft language that amends the 2015-19 Consolidated Plan and 2019 Annual Action Plan.

Background
Grantees eligible to receive funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), under the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) are required to work under a HUD Approved Consolidated Plan. Consolidated Plan details the funding strategy for CDBG for the period between 2015 and 2019. The Annual Action Plan details each year within the 5-year Consolidated Plan and outlines the implementation of annual funding, which is developed through significant public input, analyses, and planning.

On March 27th, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) to support preparation for and response to the community impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and identified additional funding for the County through is Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program. The County anticipates to receive $2,308,923 in CDBG-CV3 and $973,315 in ESG-CV2 funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Any changes to a Consortium Action Plan or Consolidated Plan that meet the definition of substantial amendment to their Consolidated Plan and Action Plan must be discussed and made available to the general public in a format as contained in the approved Citizen Participation Plan contained in the Plan.

The following changes constitute a substantial amendment and require public notice and a 30 day comment period as described in the CPP:
1. Impact how the County proposes to expend its CDBG and Home funds different from the specific activities that were originally identified in the Action Plans and Consolidated Plans.
2. Have a potential impact of greater than $200,000
3. Impact the area and type of projects/activities the Will County Consortium proposes to undertake

In accordance with 24 CFR 91.05(c)(2) and subpart B of the federal regulations relative to citizen participation for Community Planning and Development Programs and applicable waivers made available to those requirements through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Will County has amended the Citizen Participation Plan requirements to provide (1) no fewer than five days are provided for public comment and (2) reasonable notice and the opportunity to comment is provided (3) allow the use of virtual meeting for public meetings.
The public was given reasonable notice to comment in the form of an announcement and public notice, and given a five-day public comment period as part of the HUD public participation exemption process from March 2, 2021 and ending March 8, 2021.

Upon the completion of the public comment period, a complete submission contains the following three documents:
1) A signed and dated SF-424,
2) A Substantial Amendment (this form), and
3) Signed and dated General Consolidated Plan and CDBG certifications.