9978-09 Appropriating $2,463,435 from Community Development (Fund 212), defraying expenses of CED

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St. Joseph County Housing Consortium While some locations citywide will be addressed, the majority of demolition funding will be targeted to the Near Northwest, Near Westside, and Northeast Neighborhoods to complement existing rehab and new construction. The combination of CDBG and NSP funding is proposed to address a minimum of 140 houses based on an average cost of $7,500 per demolition. The 140 houses would be demolished over the next five years at the rate of about 28 demolitions per year. Infrastructure Small scale infrastructure related to particular housing or community facility projects will be considered. Over the next five years, a minimum of two projects total is proposed. Mishawaka While the City of Mishawaka's focus in the area of community development has been on providing decent, safe, sanitary housing and a suitable living environment for low-to- moderate income citizens, the City also gives priority to projects which improve public facilities, services and economic development. The City of Mishawaka continues to allocate CDBG funds for the installation and/or replacement of curbs, sidewalks and street pavement, as well as storm and sanitary sewers in areas around the city. The City routinely funds public services in order to address community needs, such as family counseling, parenting, food and nutrition, energy efficiency and neighborhood programs for both the elderly and youth. The organizations that provide these services include the Boys and Girls Club of St. Joseph County, YMCA, Stone Soup Community, Family and Children's Services, the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, REAL Services and Home Management Resources. The Cities of South Bend and Mishawaka have followed an active economic development strategy. The community's Chamber of Commerce and its quasi-affiliated business attraction program, Project Future, are very active in trying to bring new companies to the area. The Small Business Development Center is available to lend technical assistance to existing or start-up businesses. South Bend and Mishawaka are also members of the Northern Indiana Workforce Investment Board in the Michiana Business Retention and Expansion Program. WIB actively promotes business retention in the local region and creates local investments in businesses that are currently located in the community. The City of Mishawaka and its residents share a pride in the history of their neighborhoods. Many residents were employed by the Uniroyal plant and have lived in its surrounding neighborhoods for decades. However, as the population has aged, the historic homes they once owned and cared for have been inherited and sold, and in many cases converted into rental units and/or neglected. In the last few years, Mishawaka has had significant neighborhood problems related to the increase of foreclosures, vacant homes and blighted structures. However, faith in the older neighborhoods remains strong, and mixed among the dilapidated abandoned buildings are many well-maintained homes. Many of the City's short- and long-term plans are driven by the number of foreclosures and vacant and abandoned properties concentrated in these older neighborhoods. The tide of blight caused by vacant and abandoned homes can be reversed, while new families will be provided the opportunity to live in the revitalized historic districts. These short- and long-term goals of neighborhood revitalization will be accomplished via a three-part project: conversion of a blighted commercial building into 32 affordable-rent senior citizen apartments; acquisition and demolition of 12 substandard vacant/abandoned residences for use in the City's First-Time Homebuyer New Construction Program and 2010-2014 Housing and Community Development Plan 59