MEDIA ROOM

Madison Sets its Sights on Planning Grant

The CDBG logo. Courtesy of www.HUD.gov

Gail Chase, community development manager at the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments (KVCOG), spoke recently at the Madison selectmen's meeting to share information about planning grants available through Maine's Office of Community Development. Following her presentation, the group voted in favor of pursuing the grant opportunity.

The Community Planning Grants (CPG) are part of the 2008 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). If obtained, the grant would be used to evaluate development opportunities in Madison's downtown area and may serve as a springboard for future grants to make physical improvements that support the town's economic development goals.

Specifically, the selectmen are hoping to analyze housing opportunities that exist or can be developed in the downtown area. "If people live in a downtown area, it becomes an anchor," noted Ms. Chase commenting on the positive effect housing can have in a town's core and boost economic activity there. The grant would be used to evaluate several factors including needs of specific demographic groups, For example, if there is suitable housing for older adults and facilities offering long-term care in the downtown area.

Another item that would be considered would be the viability of turning the second floors of retail areas into livable space. The town would seek to have input and support from landowners of these properties before proposing any changes to the existing structures.

The CPG program is designed to aid a community's efforts to develop a strategy to address a pre-identified local housing or economic development problem. This includes planning work such as research, data gathering and analysis, preparation of plans and maps and identification of steps needed to implement development plans.

A critical component in these and any CDBG funding program is community involvement. This insures that resident support the development efforts and can offer valuable feedback and insight into what improvements are most needed and appreciated in an area. To this end, Madison will hold a public Town Hearing about the planning grant process in March. The day, time and place for this meeting will be announced in the paper and on the town's Web site at least ten days prior to the meeting. All are encouraged to attend to learn more about these grants and development opportunities in the downtown area.

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