The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is administered at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which makes funds available to local governments. Lake County became an entitlement community in 1999 and started receiving funds in 2000. The City of Tavares and the Towns of Montverde, Astatula and Lady Lake receive a share of the entitlement dollars pursuant to Urban County Partnership Agreements with Lake County. Other CDBG projects are carried out through partnerships between the County, other County agencies and non-profit service providers. Since Lake County became a CDBG entitlement community, the County and its partners have used CDBG funds for roadway paving and paying paving assessments, for housing rehabilitation, to expand meals-on-wheels deliveries and transportation services to seniors, to provide prescription assistance, to improve community centers, sidewalks and parks, and to construct ADA-accessible restrooms and entrances in public buildings.
The Housing and Community Development Division of the Department of Community Services administers the Lake County CDBG program. The Division is responsible for ensuring the funds are used to improve the living environment, quality of life and housing opportunities for low and moderate-income citizens. The CDBG program is now becoming more neighborhood-oriented with implementation of the Community Enhancement Area (CEA) Partnership program. This program is intended to assist low and moderate income neighborhoods improve their quality of life and is community-driven. Each year interested community groups may apply for grants to construct or improve neighborhood facilities. At the same time, the County assists the successful and not-so-successful applicants to build capacity, to access other resources to meet their particular needs, and serves as a liaison with other County agencies. The CEA program is overseen by a Working Group consisting of representatives from other County Departments. Ongoing CEA projects include replacement of a community center building in Yalaha, and construction of ADA-accessible restrooms at the Ferndale Fire Station/Community Center.
Every five years, all CDBG grantees are required to prepare a Consolidated Plan (.pdf format) outlining strategies for use of CDBG funds over the next five years. outlining strategies for use of CDBG funds over the next five years. Additionally, each year during the planning period, grantees must draft a One-Year Action Plan explaining how the jurisdiction intends to implement that year’s increment of the Consolidated Plan. At the end of each fiscal year, grantees are required to compile a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report(CAPER) describing the jurisdiction’s progress in carrying out the Action Plan covering the reporting period.
For more information about the CDBG and CEA programs, call Bill Gearing at 742-6515 or Barbara Schamel at 742-6516 or email them at wgearing@lakecountyfl.gov or bschamel@lakecountyfl.gov. The Housing and Community Development Division office is located at 1300 S. Duncan Drive (S.R. 19), Building E, in Tavares.
Mailing Address:
Housing and Community Development Division
Lake County Department of Community Services
P.O. Box 7800
Tavares, FL 32778-7800
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