Before

"The primary objective of the Community Development program is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low- and moderate-income."

In 1981, Congress amended the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to give each State the opportunity to administer certain Community Development Block Grant funds, otherwise administered directly by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. States are in the best position to respond to the needs of local governments and oversee the effective use of funds.

Participating States have three major responsibilities:

• Formulating community development objectives;
• Deciding how to distribute funds among communities; and
• Ensuring that recipient communities comply with applicable State and Federal laws and requirements.

Local governments have the responsibility to consider local needs, prepare grant applications for submission to the State, and carry out the funded community development activities. The Allen County Office of Community Development functions as the local coordinator of the application approval process for these funds. It also aggressively participates in the retention and expansion of business and industry in the county to ensure job availability.

After

All the Community Development activities must meet one of the National Objectives which are:

• Benefiting low and moderate income persons; or
• Addressing slums or blight; or
• Meeting a particular urgent community development need.

Through the activities made available with Community Development Block Grants, Allen County has made great strides toward improving substandard dwellings. Homes have been renovated to safe and healthy conditions made more affordable to purchase by providing residents with down-payment assistance. In addition, these funds have served to improve water and sewer lines, to make street improvements and to assist public or private nonprofit entities with construction, rehabilitation and purchase of equipment.