Clarification on Grant Program and Process for Manitou Incline

Clarification on Manitou Incline grant project with the City of Colorado Springs following Gazette report on Tuesday, August 1.

1. Grant funding is not currently at risk as the City of Colorado Springs continues to work through the grant application process with support from DHSEM.

2. The grant involves a multi-step, methodical process and takes time to complete.

3. The goal of the state is to assist the city in meeting all of the federal procurement rules so that in the end they are able to utilize all grant dollars allocated to them.

4. The grant program is a reimbursement program that means that after the grant agreement is approved and the work is completed the city can submit documentation for reimbursement of expenses.

5. This project falls under the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster (CDBG-DR) Program.

Link to the Gazette story: http://gazette.com/funding-in-question-as-anticipated-manitou-incline-closure-looms/article/1608255.

All Grants Conference Call is February 9

 The State will be holding an All Grants conference call on Thursday, February 9, 2017 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.. The presentation for this conference call will be available before the call on CO.EMGrants.com within the Applicant Call Presentations section and will be titled “2/9/17 Monthly Update."

Conference Call Information

In addition to offering a conference call for the meeting, the State would like to offer the use of Adobe Connect for the meeting.

Agenda

• FEMA Directive 108-1 - Bioengineering Requirements
• Presentation by Rick Myers from FEMA EHP
• Update on MARS Hiring
• HMGP
• Benefit Cost Analysis Training Announcement
• Quarterly Report Update
• CDBG-DR
• Programmatic Update
• DEF
• Quarterly Report Reminder
• RFR Process and Unmet Needs
• PA
• Time Extension Deadlines
• Documentation and Closeout Reminders

If you have a question you would like addressed during the call, please email cdps_dhsem_pa4229@state.co.us.

CDBG-DR Infrastructure Call Reminder for June 17, 2016

On June 17, DHSEM will be hosting the monthly CDBG-DR Infrastructure conference call at 9 a.m. View the agenda for the call, as well as the Round Three Review Schedule. Please feel free to contact DHSEM with any questions.

Contact Information

Recover Colorado Infrastructure Program
DHSEM CDBG-DR Infrastructure Program Manager
Hotline: 720--852-6713
cdps_dhsem_cdbg@state.co.us

Recovery Continues: Town of Estes Park Hydroplant Project Resulting from 2013 Flood Impacts

Fall River Hydroplant and Upper Fish Hatchery Reaches Stabilization in Estes Park, Colo.

This project is receiving Colorado Community Development Block Grant- Disaster Recovery (CDBG_DR) round one infrastructure funding to perform stream bank stabilization and channel restoration for a continuous 3,250 feet of the Fall River within Estes Park with a priority at the historic Freelan Oscar Stanley Hydroplant Museum in a phased approach.   The CDBG-DR funds are distributed from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and managed by the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. 

The project reach along the Fall River extends from 550 feet downstream of the Upper Fish Hatchery Road Bridge, upstream through the Hydroplant Museum property and to the border of Rocky Mountain National Park. The Town of Estes Park owns the entirety of the Project reach of Fall River, including the structures (e.g., Hydroplant Museum) located on the lands adjacent to the river. Construction in the river began the week of February 1, 2016.

This update was provided by DHSEM State Recovery Liaison Jody Horn as she supports the continued recovery efforts for local jurisdictions following the 2013 flood event.

DHSEM Welcomes Two New Staff Members

The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management welcomes new staff to the recovery and grant programs.

Recovery Team Welcomes Justine Willman

DHSEM welcomes Justine Willman to the Mitigation and Recovery Section. Willman joins the Recovery Program team and will be working on the Community Development Block Grant Infrastructure Program. She will be working to provide grant assistance to Colorado communities recovering from fire and flood.

Willman came to DHSEM after serving as an Asset Manager for the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) for more than five years. 

Grant Team

Please join us in welcoming Larisa Cannon to the Grants Administration Team.

Cannon recently served as an accountant for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). In that role, she was responsible for processing the Division of Transit and Rail (DTR) reimbursements for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants and other State grants for multiple statewide transit agencies.

Her role with the Grants Administration Section within DHSEM will include managing various grant programs and ensuring that guidance and technical assistance is provided to assigned grantees. Additionally, the position manages various grant-related activities to ensure they are completed on time and accurately, and ensures grant requirements are met.

Cannon holds a Bachelor degree in Business Accounting from the University of Phoenix.

DHSEM Update: August 11

Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Update:  August 11, 2014

Included in this DHSEM Update:

• 2014 LEPC Conference
• Public Comment Sessions for CDBG-DR
• Job and Volunteer Opportunities
• Kudos and Congratulations
• Educational Resources
• Twitter Tips
• 2014 National Preparedness Report
• READYColorado Events Calendar
• Real-Time Lightning Map
• Black Forest Fire and Waldo Canyon Fire Research Study
• Training Courses and Information

DHSEM Update: August 1

Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Update:  August 1

This issue of the DHSEM Update includes information on:

• Public Assistance
• Public Hearings Announced for Amendment to CDBG-DR Action Plan
• Colorado Day of Service
• CEPC Annual Conference
• Job and Volunteer Opportunities
• CEPP August Meeting Reminder
• Kudos and Congratulations
• Education Resources
• National Geographic Article on Wildfire Mitigation
• CML Knowledge Now
• Webinar Notes on Climate Adaptation and Critical Infrastructure
• FEMA Social Media in Emergency Preparedness
• READYColorado Events Calendar
• Training Information
• FEMA Workshops and Conferences
• Upcoming PIO Courses
• DHSEM Training Calendar

DHSEM Update: July 17

Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Update:  July 17, 2014

Information included in this week's Update:

• Colorado United Day Webinar
• Flood Recovery Information Updates
• CDBG-DR Stakeholder Meetings
• HMGP Acquisition Meeting
• Job and Volunteer Opportunities
• CEPP Meeting:  Emergency Communications
• Kudos
• Educational Resources
• EPA Resources
• Public Information Officer Resources
• Tri-County Health Department Resources
• Training Information
• FEMA Courses
• Master Exercise Practitioner Program Series
• DOLA:  Governance and Intergovernmental Cooperation for Local Government Officials from Smaller Jurisdictions
• Emergency Management and Planning Degree
• DHSEM Training Courses
• Important Reminders

Colorado receives HUD approval on state plan to spend $62.8 million on flood recovery

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced it approved Colorado’s Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Action Plan. The Plan outlines how Colorado will distribute $62.8 million in grant dollars received from HUD for flood recovery programs.

During a visit in December, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan announced the funding award and that it would go toward needs not addressed through other sources of public and private assistance such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration. With acceptance of this disaster action plan, the long-term and sustainable disaster recovery can continue.  

This grant will support recovery efforts in 18 Presidentially declared flood-impacted counties, with a majority of the funds going to the most impacted counties: Boulder, Larimer and Weld. Programs will focus on housing, public infrastructure, long-term planning and economic development and, as stipulated by the grant, 50 percent of the funds will be distributed to low- and moderate-income households.

“We are very pleased with this approval of our action plan for the $62.8 million in CDBG-DR funding. We greatly appreciate the efforts of HUD in working with our team to get to this as quickly as possible,” Gov. John Hickenlooper said. “This grant will support long-term and sustainable disaster recovery efforts in the most impacted communities devastated by last year’s floods. The plan was developed with feedback from those impacted communities and will give Coloradans another resource to rebuild better and stronger.”

“From the moment the Presidential disaster declaration was made, HUD has been on the job, working with Congress to speed these much-needed funds to the State of Colorado,” HUD Rocky Mountain Regional Administrator Rick M. Garcia said. “This funding is vital to helping Coloradans rebuild their communities and HUD has been proud to partner with the State of Colorado and FEMA in this process.”

Applications for the funds will be available Friday, May 2, online at http://dola.colorado.gov/cdbg-dr/. The State will work with all applicants to release the money as soon as possible.

With the approval of the state’s Action Plan, communities will be able to submit applications through the following programs:

Program	Eligible applicants	Amount available
Household Assistance Programs
Temporary Rental Assistance and Relocation	Local governments, non-profits and housing authorities with experience in administering affordable housing programs	Local governments may receive up to $1 million with the ability to award up to $20,000 per household.
Housing Purchase (Down Payment Assistance)	Local governments, non-profits and housing authorities with experience in administering affordable housing programs	Local governments may receive up to $500,000 with the ability to award up to $50,000 per household.
Housing Repairs (Single Family Rehabilitation)	Local governments, non-profits and housing authorities with experience in administering affordable housing programs	Local governments may receive up to $4 million with the ability to award up to $50,000 per household.
Clearance and Demolition	Local governments or their designated non-profits or housing authorities	Local governments may receive up to $500,000 for the removal of slum and blight.
Housing New Construction Programs
Single Family Housing New Construction	Sub-grantees may include units of general local government, non-profit and for-profit developers, and housing authorities, with experience in affordable housing development/ programs, an existing network, and capacity	Projects may receive up to $4 million with the ability to award up to $50,000 per household.
Multifamily Rental Housing New Construction	Sub-grantees may include units of general local government, non-profit and for-profit developers, and housing authorities, with experience in affordable housing development/ programs, an existing network, and capacity	Projects may receive up to $4 million with the ability to award up to $50,000 per household.
Recover Colorado Business Grant and Loan Program	Small businesses, non-profits and units of government	$9 million is available for grants and loans to small businesses.  Up to $10,000 is available in grants for those with a single damaged location and up to $25,000 for multiple locations depending on the amount of their loss.  Additionally, loans are available up to an additional $50,000.
Agriculture Grant Program	Farmers, ranchers, and producers that are registered with the Secretary of State	$4.5 million is available for awards that range from a minimum $15,000 to maximum $150,000 per project.
Recover Colorado Infrastructure Grant Program	Local governments within the 18 counties included in the Presidential Disaster Declaration including municipalities, counties, special districts, school districts and other political subdivisions of the state.	$19.5 million has been allocated for this program with maximum project awards of $5 million.
Resiliency Visioning & Strategic Planning	Local governments	$1 million has been set aside with a maximum award of $100,000 for projects.

The approved CDBG-DR Action Plan is available on the Department of Local Affairs website at http://dola.colorado.gov/cdbg-dr/

In a separate announcement recently, Donovan announced Colorado will receive an additional $199 million in CDBG-DR funds. In compliance with federal guidelines, a separate Action Plan will be prepared to address this second allocation and will include a public comment period. The allocation of funds of $199 million have not yet been recorded in the Federal Register. Once the grant is recorded, the process for allocating the funds can begin.

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HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available at www.hud.gov andhttp://espanol.hud.gov.  You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDgov, on facebook atwww.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD’s Email List.