ASHLAND — Ashland’s city officials are seeking ideas on how to spend an expected allocation of federal Community Development Block Grant funds.
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller led discussion at Tuesday’s city council meeting on what projects qualify for the CDBG funding.
The money is distributed to non-entitlement communities across Ohio, like Ashland, through the Ohio Development Services Agency every two years.
Miller said the city receives around $150,000 every two years.
Local projects — which are required to benefit individuals of low to moderate income — have in years past involved water line replacements, replacing city hall’s elevator and installing a wheelchair ramp at the Guy C. Myers Bandshell.
There will be two public hearings on the matter.
The first, held during Tuesday’s council meeting, Miller said, was to outline which types of projects qualify.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the funds may be used for:
- Acquiring property
- Relocation and demolition
- Rehab of residential and non-residential structures
- Construction of public facilities and improvements (including water and sewer facilities, streets, neighborhood centers and the conversion of school buildings for eligible purposes)
- public services
- initiatives to conserve energy and promote renewable energy resources
- assist profit-motivated businesses to carry out economic development and job creation and retention
Each project must “benefit low- and moderate-income persons,” according to HUD.
An idea
Councilman Steve Workman offered an idea. He said the money could be used to fund the creation of a new park along West 11th Street.
The city intends to buy the 1.4-acre property for $1,000 from the Ashland City School district. The property used to house Lincoln Elementary School. The school, first built in 1911, closed in 2013. It was then demolished in 2015.
Officials from the city said they are seeking donors for the new park. The name could be “Lincoln Park” or “Lincoln School Park.”
No construction has happened. The city has not closed on the property, according to county real estate records.
Miller expressed support of the idea of using CDBG funds for the project, calling Workman’s idea “excellent.”
The city will hold another public hearing to discuss projects it is considering, Miller said. A date has not yet been determined.