Penn Hills schedules public hearing on how to spend federal community development funds

Penn Hills will hold the first of two public hearings at 7:30 p.m. March 27 to guide its 2025 Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships spending.

These monies come from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to benefit low- and moderate-income residents, combat blight and address other urgent community development needs. Specific uses must be outlined in an annual action plan submitted to the department.

Penn Hills usually receives about $700,000 in CDBG funds, $35,000 from homeowners repaying loans as part of its CDBG-backed housing rehabilitation program and $130,000 in HOME funds.

This last category once again will pay for zero-interest, forgivable loans as part of the Penn Hills Homebuyer Assistance Program, according to Planning Director Meg Balsamico.

CDBG funds tend to be the primary focus of public hearings as community groups ask for a slice of the pie. Penn Hills can only grant their requests up to a point, as HUD puts a 15% cap on how much of a CDBG allotment can go toward what it calls “public services.”

The remainder will go toward things such as street reconstruction, demolition and improvements to the William McKinley Center, Balsamico said.

“Any groups or any residents that have interest are welcome to attend and give us input for the annual plan,” Balsamico said.

A draft plan will be released once the municipality knows exactly how much money it has to work with.

The second hearing has yet to be scheduled.