Agencies seek public suggestions on spending federal funds for housing, economic development

   AUGUSTA, Maine – Two Maine agencies are seeking citizen suggestions on how best to use federal housing and economic development funds.     In the Presque Isle region, the public forum will be July 30 at 1 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Presque Isle City Building, 12 Second Street, Presque Isle.
MaineHousing and the Office of Economic and Community Development (DECD) are conducting four forums in July in preparation for developing Maine’s 2008 Consolidated State Plan. This plan is submitted to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a condition of federal funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnership (FedHOME) and Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) programs.
The complete public forum schedule includes meetings in: Westbrook, July 24; Bangor, July 25; Augusta, July 26; and Presque Isle, July 30. The sessions will help determine priorities for over $20 million in federal funds.
“The forums provide a perfect opportunity for citizens to tell us what they think Maine’s housing and economic development priorities should be, how well the programs offered by MaineHousing and DECD are meeting these priorities and how MaineHousing and DECD can better serve their region,” said MaineHousing Director Dale McCormick.
“The forums also provide us the opportunity to gather information and new ideas from people, to learn about housing and community development needs in each region and to receive feedback on potential program changes,” she said.