CARES Act Supplemental Funding
CARES Act Supplemental Funding - CDBG-CV and ESG-CV
The City of Duluth has received a special allocation of funds to address the current COVID-19 pandemic from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This funding was approved through the passing of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The purpose of the additional funds is to provide communities the ability to quickly respond to community needs in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. HUD has allocated CARES Act funds in multiple rounds: CV-1, CV-2, and CV-3. In April and May of 2020, The City gathered community input regarding urgent needs in the community due to COVID-19. CV-1 funds were awarded and approved by City Council in July 2020. In October and November of 2020, the City asked for additional community input regarding ongoing and current needs in the community due to COVID-19.
Background and Community Outreach
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has notified the city of an additional special allocation of funding associated with the federal CARES Act. The funding is intended to be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The city has been allocated the following amounts:
- Community Development Block Grant – CDBG-CV-3: $500,310
- Emergency Solutions Grant Program – ESG-CV-2: $1,252,530
- Total CDBG-CV-3 and ESG-CV-2 Special Allocations: $1,752,840
These amounts will be added as a Substantial Amendment to the FY 2019 Annual Action Plan, Year 5 of the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan. Input about arising needs for people with low and moderate incomes related to the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged. The following activities are being considered for funding: public services, small business/micro-enterprise technical assistance, job training, subsistence payments to prevent homelessness, homeless facilities, homelessness prevention and rapid-rehousing, homeless case management, homeless outreach services, and emergency shelter. All activities receiving funds shall assist with needs related to the preventing, preparing for, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic, HUD has issued a waiver to 24 CFR 91.105(c)(2) and (k), 91.115(c)(2) and (i) and 24 CFR 91.401 that allows for an expedited comment period. The comment period was open from Monday, October 19, 2020 to Monday, October 26, 2020. A virtual public hearing was held via WebEx on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 5:30 PM by the Community Development Committee. See the full Public Comment and Public Hearing notice here. The City held an additional virtual community input session on November 19th. View the recording of that session here.
Request for Proposals
The City of Duluth issued a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit project proposals for CDBG-CV and ESG-CV funding. Proposals were due on January 22, 2021. A review committee is evaluating the proposals to help the City of Duluth select projects that respond to the community’s most pressing needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
January 7, 2021: Online RFP Review Session and Q&A
- View the session recoding here.
January 15, 2021: Deadline to submit Questions
- All questions should be submitted via email to purchasing@duluthmn.gov
January 19, 2021: Answers to Questions posted
- Click here for the questions and answers regarding this RFP.
January 22, 2021: Proposals Due
- Proposals must be received electronically by the Purchasing Office (purchasing@duluthmn.gov) by 4:00 PM on this date.
HUD allocated just over $2 million in CDBG-CV-1 and ESG-CV-1 funds to the City of Duluth to assist community members whose lives and well-being have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Insights and immediate community needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic were provided by community members and community-focused organizations during a public comment period at the beginning of May. In addition to mailed and emailed comments, the City gathered input at a virtual comment session on April 30th and a virtual CD Committee Public Hearing held on May 5th. A summary of comments from the April virtual input session is available by clicking here.
CDBG-CV and ESG-CV funding details and proposed activities.
The City of Duluth issued a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit project proposals for CDBG-CV-1 and ESG-CV-1 funding. Proposals were due on June 24, 2020. A review committee evaluated the proposals to help the City of Duluth select projects that respond to the community’s most pressing needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City Council approved funding the recommended projects on July 20, 2020.