NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
BEFORE THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDING BLOCKS FUND BOARD
Public Notice is hereby given in accordance with Title 29, Section 10004 of the Delaware Code., as amended, 29 Del. C. §5005(11), as amended, and Title 1 Delaware Administrative Code, Part 479 (18 DE. Reg. 464) (12/01/14) that the Neighborhood Building Blocks Fund Board (the “Board”) with the Delaware Economic Development Office, as the administrator of the Board, will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. in the Main Conference Room at the Delaware Economic Development Office, 99 Kings Highway, Dover, Delaware 19901.
The public meeting will address the matters and applications described below for proposed grants from the Board authorized by §39 of the FY 2015 Budget Act (79 Del. Laws ch. 290) in connection with the proposed projects to support local neighborhood revitalization programs, law enforcement, community development or public protection, in the amount and on behalf of the applicants identified below.
The public is invited to attend and participate in the hearing. In advance of the hearing, additional information concerning the matters and applications to be considered at the hearing may be obtained from, and written comments may be submitted to, the Board in care of the Delaware Economic Development Office, 99 Kings Highway, Dover, Delaware 19901, (302) 739-4271.
The Board reserves the right to conduct a part of the hearing in one or more executive sessions closed to the public for the purpose of discussing certain confidential law enforcement, commercial or other confidential information submitted by the applicants for assistance that is not a public record within the meaning of Section 10002 of the Delaware Code.
The agenda for the hearing, which is subject to change, is as follows:
1. Applicant: Wilmington Housing Partnership – The Applicant is requesting a Neighborhood Building Blocks Fund grant in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for completion and submission of a Downtown Development Districts (DDD) application to the State of Delaware, the focus of which is to address issues of disinvestment, crime and blight in downtown Wilmington by stimulating real estate investment and by encouraging connectivity between Wilmington’s core and adjacent downtown neighborhoods, including downtown Market Street, the Creative district just west of Market Street, and downtown neighborhoods west and east of, and contiguous to, Market Street.
2. Applicant: Town of Georgetown - The Applicant is requesting a Neighborhood Building Blocks Fund grant in an amount not to exceed $45,000, for completion and submission of a Downtown Development Districts (DDD) application to the State of Delaware, the focus of which is to aid the town in preparing a District Plan that will articulate and illustrate a shared vision for the downtown amongst stakeholders and political leaders. The intent of the Plan is to assist in making the downtown area market-ready and attracting and incentivizing private capital investment in the downtown.
3. Applicant: Town of Smyrna - The Applicant is requesting a Neighborhood Building Blocks Fund grant in an amount not to exceed $9,536 toward completion and submission of a Downtown Development Districts (DDD) application to the State of Delaware, the focus of which is to create an overall economic development strategy to spur additional public and private investment in the downtown area, as well as create local incentives to leverage potential state funding if/when designated as a DDD.
4. Applicant: Town of Dagsboro - The Applicant is requesting a Neighborhood Building Blocks Fund grant in an amount not to exceed $36,000 for completion and submission of a Downtown Development Districts application to the State of Delaware, the focus of which is to advance the objectives of Town Center District, design standards, streetscape improvements, and the 2009 comprehensive plan, while addressing several critical issues that may be slowing the Town from meeting its economic potential and capitalizing on its many strengths and opportunities.
5. Applicant: City of New Castle - The Applicant is requesting a Neighborhood Building Blocks Fund grant in an amount not to exceed $46,500 for completion and submission of a Downtown Development Districts (DDD) application to the State of Delaware, the focus of which is to identify and implement community development initiatives that better weave together the City’s disparate neighborhoods and achieve improved physical and social interconnections between outlying areas, the historic center, and the waterfront; to spur investment that will strengthen the local economy; to enhance economic redevelopment; to promote public safety and welfare; and to improve the overall quality of life of residents.
6. Applicant: City of Harrington - The Applicant is requesting a Neighborhood Building Blocks Fund grant in an amount not to exceed $40,000 for completion and submission of a Downtown Development Districts (DDD) application to the State of Delaware, the focus of which is to develop an overall economic development strategy in the proposed area of Commerce Street, Railroad Avenue, Fleming Street, Mechanic Street, Dorman Street, and Delaware Avenue and in support of the 2013 Comprehensive Land Use Plan that is directly relevant to the proposed downtown development.
7. Applicant: Town of Clayton - The Applicant is requesting a Neighborhood Building Blocks Fund grant in an amount not to exceed $ 5,214 for completion and submission of a Downtown Development Districts (DDD) application to the State of Delaware, the focus of which is to spur physical improvements to residential and commercial properties and industrial sites situated on both sides of Main Street between Bassett Street and Highland Avenue, anchored on the east by Claytons’ historic railroad station, and on the west by the town offices and police station; strengthen its town center as a focal point for shopping, socializing, and civic activities; and enhance the business environment such that new businesses will be opened.
8. Applicant: City of Dover - The Applicant is requesting a Neighborhood Building Blocks Fund grant in an amount not to exceed $15,000 for completion and submission of a Downtown Development Districts (DDD) application to the State of Delaware, the focus of which is to 1) market and brand the downtown District of Delaware’s Capital City to encourage private investment, and 2) to develop a Western Capital Gateway Plan to develop a vision and plan to improve Dover’s gateway from the West.