ELYRIA — Local nonprofit groups already are chiming in — hoping the city will give them a chunk of cash from the city’s allotment of Community Development Block Grant money.

For many of the agencies, receiving even a small percentage of the anticipated $775,000 pot will mean the difference between shuttering programs and staying afloat. After the funding uproar earlier this year, where the initial CDBG budget was presented with no money for nonprofits, many are eager to let the city know early about their needs.

“We are a small organization and anything we receive is considered significant,” said Julia Nieves, executive director of Save Our Children. “For us, the money ensures that we continue. We are the only youth organization on the south side of Elyria that has operated for 12 years consecutively without closing. Having core support from the city allows us to bring in more money and leverage other resources.”

Save Our Children received $10,000 through the CDBG program after anger over the block grant budget led to a reallocation of funds earlier this year. Nieves said the money was to pay for part-time personnel, fund monthly field trips and purchase supplies for the organization’s after-school program, which averages 70 to 80 kids each day.

With a limited amount of money available and thousands of dollars being requested, Community Development/Planning Director Angie Byington said public input is being sought before a final budget is presented to City Council for approval early next year.

“We want people to start thinking about what the money can be used for, what activities are allowed and how the money should be spent,” she said. “The final allocation has not been set yet, but for budgeting purposes we anticipate having slightly less next year than we had this year.”

The money also can be used for city-run programs.

Last year, the Parks and Recreation Department received $35,000 for program funding geared toward senior citizens and youth. This year, Director Frank Gustoff is hoping for more to allow him to upgrade West Park and South Park with new restrooms and picnic shelters.

“Naturally, I know we won’t get it all funded, but we always hope,” he said. “You always have to have a wish list. It just so happens that mine is $675,000.”

Byington could not say how much money will go to nonprofit groups. The city is soliciting public comment on the issue between Monday and Dec. 29 in advance of a public hearing scheduled for Jan. 5.

However, drastic changes in how CDBG funds will be allocated could occur because of the city’s expected windfall of $2.4 million from the federal government’s new Neighborhood Stabilization Program. That money is earmarked for purchasing and rehabilitating foreclosed homes, so Byington said she will recommend that the City Council spend less of its regular CDBG funds on owner-occupied rehabilitation than it normally does each year.

With just one rehabilitation inspector in the department, the workload will become too much once the city begins rehabbing foreclosed homes as required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com. 

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