Mayor Announces Community Development Block Grant Action Plan for the 2020 Award Year
Salisbury – Mayor Jake Day is pleased to announce that the City Council has passed Resolution 3031, authorizing the adoption of the City’s Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds received as part of the 2020 award cycle.
An initiative of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the CDBG program offers annual grant awards aimed at developing more livable, more vibrant urban communities by rectifying blight, and creating economic opportunity. Salisbury’s 2020 grant awards, totaling $387,418, are allocated by the City’s CDBG Action Plan to address walkability and pedestrian safety, as well youth development.
Highlights of the plan include:
- Almost $170,00 to fund the construction and improvement of sidewalks in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods
- $125,000 to renovate and improve the Truitt Community Center
- $25,000 to fund the creation of a Community Kitchen Program Manager position
The Truitt Community Center, opened in 2018, quickly became a hub of near-constant activity for the youth of the City’s east side. In the North Camden neighborhood, the soon-to-be-opened Newton Community Center will offer similar activities and opportunities to the children in the surrounding neighborhood, with one notable addition: a commercial kitchen.
Mayor Day said, “With the Camden Community Garden directly across the street, we have an opportunity to teach life skills such as gardening and food gathering. By creating this position, and by including a functional, commercial-grade kitchen in the renovated facility, we will open the door to possible career paths that students might not consider otherwise.”
In light of the current national health crisis, public input and review of the Action Plan was conducted online, to ensure safe and responsible discussion while adhering to social distancing orders.
“The priorities we have set for our city still exist,” said Mayor Day. “Regardless of what changes the COVID-19 crisis may bring to our lives today, or in the future, Salisbury’s steadfast commitment to creating a safer, more equitable community for our children remains. I am very pleased that—thanks to Grants Manager Debbie Stam, who saw the need for us to adapt to this new reality—we were able to conduct public input in a safe, virtual environment. Her ability to see the opportunity through the obstacles made it possible for us to keep this annual funding process on-track.”
Resolution 3031 passed by unanimous consent at Monday night’s legislative session.
