Notice of Funding Availability for Capital Projects

The Application Period for FY 2019-2020 is now closed. 

The Sonoma County Community Development Commission (Commission) requests applications for eligible capital and affordable housing projects, and housing programs to receive funding from the following sources: 

• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – FY 2019-2020 Estimate: $1.2 million
• HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) – FY 2019-2020 Estimate: $790,000

The Commission administers US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) program funds on behalf of the County of Sonoma, the Town of Windsor, and the cities of Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, and Sonoma (collectively, the “Urban County”). This NOFA and associated guiding documents policies govern the distribution of funds for capital projects including affordable housing projects. 

HUD has yet to announce FY 2019–2020 CDBG and HOME program allocations, but assuming funding levels are similar to the County’s allocation for FY 2018–2019, the amount of funding available is expected to be $1.2 million in CDBG and $790,000 in HOME funds available for capital projects.

The packet contains the FY 2019-2020 CDBG & HOME for Capital Projects Funding Policies, the funding timeline, and application guidelines and forms. Please review this NOFA, the funding policies and application guidelines carefully for important information on project/program eligibility and application procedures.

Important Note: Funds for Homeless Services Programs will be made available through a separate Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). The FY 2019-2020 Homeless Services NOFA will include one-time funding from the State Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP), which may be used for capital improvements serving homeless persons.  Potential developers of capital projects for homeless persons should review the Homeless Services NOFA in addition to this NOFA. 

For more information on the FY 2019-2020 Homeless Services NOFA please visit: http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CDC/Homeless-Services/Funding-Opportunities/Homeless-Services-Funding/

Application Materials

• Capital Projects Application Guidelines
• CDBG Capital Projects FY19-20 Application
• HOME Capital Projects FY19-20 Application

There have been numerous significant changes made to the funding policies, eligibility criteria, application forms and required attachments. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to attend. The technical assistance session to learn about CDBG & HOME for Capital Projects application requirements and process has been scheduled as follows. 

Thursday, December 6, 2018
1:00 pm -4:00 pm 
Hearing Room
Sonoma County Community Development Commission
1440 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Applicants unable to attend these sessions may contact Darrin O’Hara at (707) 565-7522 or darrin.ohara@sonoma-county.org to ask questions or get help with the application process.

All proposals must be submitted to the Commission by 2:00 pm on Friday, January 11, 2019

The CDBG & HOME Funding Policies further the five year goals set out in the FY 2015-2020 Consolidated Plan, and have been amended to take advantage of Disaster Waivers from HUD that provide flexibility and target funds to the highest needs following the October 2017 fires. 

According to post-fire research, renters were disproportionately impacted by the fires, in particular low- and very-low income renters who did not have access to FEMA assistance or insurance.  In addition to those renters whose homes were destroyed, the extremely tight housing market and increased displaced many renters, causing them to leave the area, become precariously housed, or become homeless.

To be responsive to both the long-term goals and the emerging community needs following the October fires, the Commission has established three overarching FY 2019-2020 urgent community needs that will layer upon the basic threshold and selection criteria used to ensure applicant eligibility and capacity that are laid out in the funding policies.

The Commission will recommend awarding funds to the most competitive proposals that adhere to the basic Threshold Criteria, rank well under the Selection Criteria, and that best meet the following combination of urgent community needs:

1. Serve the maximum number of people at the lowest incomes
2. Leverage public funds or meet a particular community need that cannot be met by other funding sources
3. Expedite creation of as many new rental housing opportunities as possible in areas of opportunity or improve access to important community assets in low-income communities, in particular, racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty.*

*Italicized terms are defined further in the CDBG & HOME Funding Policies, Section 11.

All applications will be reviewed and evaluated by Commission staff, who will then prepare an analysis for consideration by the Community Development Committee and the Technical Advisory Committee at a public all day workshop on Wednesday, February 20, 2019, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. At the workshop, the committees will review staff analysis of proposals submitted under the competitive funding categories, take testimony from applicants, and provide feedback to staff that will be integrated into staff recommendations in the Draft Annual Action Plan. All applicants must be present at the public workshop to be considered for funding.

The Draft Annual Action Plan will be presented to both committees at concurrent public hearings during the public comment period for the Draft Action Plan. The hearing will be held on April 17, 2019, from 10:00 am-11:30 am.  The Draft Action Plan will include a list of projects and programs recommended for funding.  The committees will concurrently review the Draft Action Plan and make final funding recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.

 The Board will make discuss and adopt the FY 2019-2020 Action Plan on April 30, 2019.