Public input helps county, Bradenton community development grant spending

MANATEE -- For Doug Sarchet, the lack of affordable housing is one of Manatee County's main issues.

"The amount of housing that is available for low income is not very much," said the Bradenton resident, who is semi-retired living on a fixed income. "Trying to find affordable housing is impossible."

On Monday, Sarchet was one of the individuals who shared his opinion of how the county's Community Development Block Grant should be spent. Manatee County and Bradenton city governments had tables set up collecting citizen input in the lobby of the Central Library in Bradenton.

Each year, the projects are selected based on citizen input. Residents also will be able to share their opinion

about what should be included in the 2016-17 annual action plan March 3 from 1-3 p.m. at South Manatee Library, 6081 26th St. W., Bradenton.

"It is really what the public wants," said Bill O'Shea, project manager in the community development division of the county's neighborhood services department.

For the 2016-17 fiscal year, Manatee County has been allocated approximately $2.23 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the three funds: HOME Investment Partnership, CDBG, and Emergency Solutions Grant funds.

While 70 percent of the money must assist low and moderate income residents, CDBG funds can be used toward infrastructure, home owner rehabilitation, public facilities improvements and public service projects, according to information on display Monday.

This coming year's priorities for Manatee County will be unveiled at a Feb. 29 grant workshop. Bradenton's high priorities for the coming year include homeless needs, affordable housing and providing services to low and moderate income youth.

"The greatest challenge is to get people out to talk about it now," said Denise Thomas, the county's housing and community development coordinator. "We need them now to speak up. The program is for them."

As work continues in developing the plan for the upcoming year, the county will also soon begin work on the next Five-Year Consolidated Plan, which "identifies community development needs and establishes goals and strategies for addressing those needs," according to program materials.

In developing that plan, the county is asking for the community's input.

"They need to vision their community and what they want to be in the next five years," Thomas said. "They need to start talking now about where they want the community in the next five years."

For more information about the program and to fill out a survey to provide input, visit mymanatee.org.

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 11:27 PM with the headline "Public input helps county, Bradenton community development grant spending ."