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Within City government, the Community & Economic Development Office
(CEDO) is primarily responsible for coordinating the City's efforts to reduce
poverty. CEDO administers the City's Community Development Block Grant and HOME
programs and works in partnership with citizens, the public and private sector,
and other city departments to:
- develop housing opportunities, particularly affordable housing;
- revitalize Burlington's waterfront;
- maintain and improve the vitality of
Downtown, Pine Street and Burlington neighborhood business districts;
- foster
job growth and employment opportunities;
- encourage a thriving small business
sector;
- support the delivery of human services;
- strengthen the quality of
life in Burlington's neighborhoods; and
- increase civic engagement and citizen
participation.
The Community & Economic Development Office coordinates its housing
programs with other anti-poverty programs and services (many of which are
referenced throughout the Consolidated Plan) by ensuring that information on a
variety of programs and services (through staff and in brochures, postings, and
other literature) is readily accessible to residents at CEDO and online; through
regular meetings to ensure the flow of information among those who staff these
programs at CEDO; and through the coordination and cooperative efforts described
elsewhere in the Consolidated Plan.
The ultimate goal of the City's Consolidated Development Block Grant program
is to reduce the number of people living in poverty in the City. Toward this
end, the City will give funding priority to programs which - in addition to
complying with federal regulations and addressing a priority outlined in the
Consolidated Plan - are consistent with the following anti-poverty strategy for
resource allocation.
1. Each project must satisfy one of the three following overriding goals:
- The project must help people move out of poverty.
- The project must
prevent people from entering poverty.
- The project must address the basic
needs of people living in poverty.
2. In making funding decisions, the City will give priority to programs that:
- Support, complement or are consistent with other current City plans;
- Are sustainable over time;
- Have demonstrated cooperation and collaboration
among government, private nonprofit agencies and the private sector to maximize
impacts and reduce administrative costs;
- Do not have a more appropriate
source of funds.
3. A priority population for CDBG-funded services are individuals (especially
people of color and people with disabilities) who are denied, by poverty and
historical institutional practices, the opportunity to develop their full
potential and to enjoy the benefits of community participation. The City will
give priority to programs provided through organizations or agencies that
demonstrate a commitment to making their services accessible to people through
diversity training of staff and Boards, through recruitment and hiring of
minority staff and Board members, and through efforts to provide services in an
accessible and culturally sensitive manner.
4. A priority population for CDBG-funded services are female-headed
households with children, who are currently, and have been historically,
disproportionately impacted by poverty.
5. CDBG funded services must, to the fullest extent possible, be appropriate
and accessible to people with disabilities, people of color, people with limited
or no proficiency in English, and other eligible individuals and families who
may face special barriers in accessing services. The City recognizes that while
progress is being made in improving access to services and activities,
specialized access services are likely to continue to be required in certain
instances to ensure that priority populations receive the services they need.
6. The CDBG program was built on a premise of local involvement in directing
funds to neighborhood and community needs. The City will give priority to
programs that promote community initiatives to identify priority needs and to
address those needs. Recognizing the limits on the ability of service systems to
meet all needs, the City will seek to leverage resources to promote
comprehensive, long-term responses that promote neighborhood self-sufficiency.
7. The City will give priority to programs that provide services addressing
the basic needs of Burlington's most at-risk populations.
8. The City will give priority to programs that build and support the
capacity of local organizations to address the needs of residents.
9. The City will give priority to programs that support economic development
and other programs that capture local dollars and prevent them from "leaking out"
of the community.
10. The City will give priority to programs that promote access to quality
jobs - positions that pay well enough to support an adequate standard of living,
allow the purchase of housing and other basic necessities, offer stability and
decent working conditions, and provide opportunities for advancement.
In general, the City will target the use of CDBG and HOME funds to projects
in low-income areas that include, but are not limited to, the Old North
End/Renewal Community, King Street, King St. and Lakeside neighborhoods. When a
compelling community development need arises in other areas, the City will
evaluate the potential benefit to low and moderate households as well as the
City's overall objectives contained in the Consolidated Plan. The City will
spend CDBG funds for economic development throughout the City, but targeted to
North Street, Downtown, the Waterfront, the Intervale, Neighborhood Activity
Centers, and the Enterprise Zone (former industrial zone).
Page last updated May 13, 2003
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