County seeking comments on community development block grant report

Clay County Government issued a draft report of its progress on community development block grant projects and is seeking public comments about the document.

The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report summarizes the progress made towards the five-year goals established in the county’s CDBG consolidated plan. It describes how funds were allocated and the extent to which funds benefitted low- and moderate-income persons. Funded activities must serve one of the three CDBG national objectives: 1) to benefit low-and moderate-income persons, 2) to aid in the prevention or elimination of slum or blight, and 3) to meet a community development need of urgency.

The county said in the report that its major accomplishments using community block development grants were funding 108 home rehabilitation projects, 25 mobile home replacement projects and nine code violation projects.

“The County also resurfaced Louie Carter Road in Middleburg, Florida, which benefited a residential area of 100 low to moderate-income families,” the county said.

“Additionally, two community clean-up days to resolve code enforcement issues were organized in High Ridge Estates. These projects aligned with the High Ridge Initiative, a community-led effort to improve the quality of life in one of the county’s low to moderate-income areas.”

The county said the majority of eligible applicants for home rehabilitation and code enforcement resolution came from Middleburg, which had 37 eligible applicants, and Keystone Heights, which had 21 eligible applicants.

“Orange Park and Green Cove Springs each had 18 eligible applicants,” the county said. “Jacksonville, Melrose, and Lawtey each had one eligible applicant; portions of these zip codes are located geographically in Clay County.”

The county said the average median income of all approved applicants for housing rehabilitation projects was $25,674.

Part of the report addresses how the county handles the needs of homeless people within Clay.

“There are about 848 emergency shelter beds accessible to Clay County,” officials said. “Several non-profit providers and faith-based organizations offer services and facilities to the homeless population, which include emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent support housing.”

The report’s 15-day public review and comment period is Wednesday, November 23, 2022, through Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at the close of business. Comments from the public are encouraged and will be accepted during this period at the Department of Economic and Development Services, 477 Houston St., 3rd Floor, Planning and Zoning Division, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. Comments can also be given by calling 904-541-3814 or emailing cdbg@claycountygov.com.

Officials are also holding a public meeting about the draft document. The meeting will be held at the Fleming Island Library at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30.