A home on St. Croix destroyed by 2017 Hurricane Maria. By. IRENE ALI/IRENE ALI PHOTOGRAPHY
The Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (V.I.H.F.A.) announced Thursday a second round of orientation sessions for 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applicants. The sessions have been set for Monday, February 10, 2020, on St. Thomas, and Wednesday, February 12 on St. Croix. Both meetings will be held in the V.I.H.F.A. training rooms at 4:00 p.m., located at 3202 Demarara Plaza, Suite 200, Frenchtown, St. Thomas, and 100 Lagoon Complex, Suite 4, Frederiksted, St. Croix.
CDBG is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) formula-allocation grant, which focuses on the development of viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities, V.I.H.F.A. said. Each funded project must meet at least one of the three national objectives: prevention of slums/blight, address an urgent need, or be a provision of employment or other benefits primarily to low/moderate-income persons.
Eligible applicants include non-profit and faith-based organizations, government agencies, and for-profit entities (economic development activities only). CDBG is particularly interested in receiving proposals for programs providing mental health services, homeless services, before and after school care programs, and summer programs with an emphasis on academic enhancement for youth ages 4-16. Applicants may also submit proposals for projects/programs other than those listed above.
Applicants are required to attend one of the scheduled sessions in their respective island-district. The application deadline is Friday, February 28, 2020, at 4:00 p.m.
The first orientation sessions were held on January 28 in St. Croix and January 30 in St. Thomas.
For more information, please call Ms. Jennifer Jones. Associate Planner II at (340) 777-4432 in the St. Thomas/St. John District or Ms. Tamisha I. Thomas, CDBG Program Manager/Jasheda Reyes, Associate Planner I at (340) 772-4432 in the St. Croix District.
