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Our Mission | About Us
The Community Development Department’s mission is to help residents of Pinellas County achieve sustainable living through decent housing, suitable living environments and expanded economic opportunities.
NEWS & INITIATIVES______________________________________
 New Help to take Advantage of $8,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit – 
Are you in a catch-22? Ready to buy right now, but need the $8,000 tax credit to meet your cash requirement? Can’t get the $8,000 until after you buy? There must be a way out of this, right? There is! Pinellas County can help first-time homebuyers take advantage of the $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. You might be able to get your cash now and repay it when you get your refund. Call now, to find if you quality.
If you are a veteran or have not owned a home in the past three years, Pinellas County may be able to help. You can have a maximum household income of $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers. Loans carry 0% interest and repayment is due 10 days after you receive your refund. In some cases, repayment may be extended for up to 18 months. According to Anthony M. Jones, Director, Pinellas County Community Development, “This program will be a great help to homebuyers who want to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit and need assistance in advance.”
Properties located inside the city limits of Clearwater, Largo, St. Petersburg and Belleair Shore are not eligible for these programs. Interested homebuyers in those communities should contact those cities directly for information programs they offer.
For additional information, contact Pinellas County Community Development at 727-464-8210.
Pinellas receives $17.8 Million for Neighborhood Stabilization
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Pinellas receives $17.8 Million for Neighborhood Stabilization
Pinellas County will receive $17.8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The funding is part of a $50 million award to Florida Suncoast Partners, a consortium consisting of Neighborhood Lending Partners, Pasco County, and Pinellas County. The cities of Clearwater and Largo also partnered with the consortium to prepare the grant. Pinellas County’s share will be used in eligible neighborhoods throughout unincorporated Pinellas, Largo, Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and Oldsmar that represent a high number of foreclosures.
The money will be used to help halt the decline of property values in neighborhoods that have been heavily impacted by the foreclosure crisis. Single-family and multi-family properties in physical decline will be purchased and renovated. Once properties have been refurbished they will be sold or rented to income qualified households. We are very excited about this new opportunity,” said Cheryl Coller Reed, assistant director for the Pinellas County Community Development Department. “This program will greatly assist in our efforts to stabilize neighborhoods that have been adversely affected by significant foreclosure activity and assist in the creation and preservation of affordable housing.”
Help with down payment and closing costs will also be available under the new program.
Click here  to view the complete application submitted by Florida Suncoast Housing Partners
For additional information contact Pinellas County Community Development at (727) 464-8210.
Thinking about buying a new home?
A new mortgage program from the Housing Finance Authority can help. Click here for more information.
Property Tax Exemption
An additional property tax exemption is available to qualified residents in 20 municipalities and unincorporated Pinellas.
If you’re 65 or older and your household income was approximately $26,000 last year, you might be eligible. But you must apply by March 1.
To see if you qualify, call the Property Appraiser’s office at 464-3294, or visit their website: at www.pcpao.org/Exemptions.html.
PINELLAS COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM
SECOND AMENDMENT TO 2008-2009 ACTION PLAN
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development authorized funding for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program under Title III of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. Funding will be used for emergency assistance to acquire and redevelop foreclosed properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight within their communities.
Pinellas County intends to submit a Second Substantial Amendment to the 2008-2009 Action Plan no later than December 2, 2009, in order to expand the target areas for expending the $8,063,759 allocation of funds.
A draft of the Second Substantial Amendment is available for viewing and public comment from November 4 to 18, 2009. The amendment may be viewed at Pinellas County Community Development, 600 Cleveland Street, Suite 800, Clearwater, FL 33755 or by clicking here .
Many of the Citizen Participation Plan requirements have been abbreviated. Interested parties are encouraged to mail or send comments during the comment period, as they will not be able to make comments at the December 1st Board meeting when the Board of County Commissioners will consider the Program Amendment. Public comments on the Amendment should be sent to the Pinellas County Community Development Department at the address above or e-mailed to cdplanning@pinellascounty.org.
Click here to view the original Substantial Amendment.
Click here to view the 1st Quarterly Performance Report.
Click here to view the 2nd Quarterly Performance Report.
Dreaming of owning your own Home?
Get HIP! Become a member of the Homebuyer Information Program (HIP). Sign up today and be the first to receive the latest news and information on: available quality-built affordable single-family homes, townhomes, and condos; mortgage products; down payment and closing assistance programs; homebuyer counseling services, home repair and remodeling programs and much, much more! For more information contact the Pinellas County Community Department at (727) 464-8210 or click here to sign-up now. Your dream of homeownership can become a reality!
Pinellas County Consortium and Urban County 2009-2010 Action Plan Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Shelter Grant, and HOME Investment Partnership Programs
The 2009-2010 Action Plan that identifies housing and community development needs, priorities, objectives and strategies and proposed activities for 2009-2010 was submitted to HUD for final approval. Approximately 99% of Pinellas County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are allocated to activities that principally benefit low and moderate-income households. The remaining funds will be used for activities eliminating slum and blight. View the Executive Summary at www.pinellascounty.org/community/Executive Summary.htm.
Community Development Block Grant Recovery Act Funding
Amendment to 2008-2009 Action Plan
The U.S. Housing and Urban Development recently announced funding authorized under Title XII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Funding provided through the Community Development Block Grant Recovery Act Program (CDBG-R) will be used to fund shovel-ready housing or other related community development activities, primarily for persons of low and moderate incomes.
Pinellas County submitted a Substantial Amendment to the 2008-2009 Action Plan, in order to access the $809,226 allocation of CDBG-R funds.
Click here to view the submitted CDBG-R Substantial Amendment
Notice of Availability for Viewing
Substantial Amendment to the FY 2008-2009 Action Plan for Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program and Community Development Block Grant Recovery Act Funding
The U.S. Housing and Urban Development recently announced funding authorized under Title XII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Funding provided through the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) will be used to provide financial assistance and services to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless or help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized. Funding provided through the Community Development Block Grant Recovery Act Program (CDBG-R) will be used to fund shovel-ready housing or other related community development activities, primarily for persons of low and moderate incomes.
Pinellas County submitted a substantial amendment to the current Action Plan on May 13, 2009, in order to access the $1,237,464 allocation of HPRP funds and $809,226 allocation of CDBG-R funds.
View a draft of the Substantial Amendment submitted to HUD
Pinellas County Establishes Foreclosure Prevention Website
Following the Oct. 18, 2008 Foreclosure Prevention Workshop in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County launched a new foreclosure prevention website. The workshop was held at the Coliseum and co-sponsored by Pinellas County, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Largo. The foreclosure prevention website features the participating speakers and offers contact information for non-profit participants as well as local agencies that provide counseling in the area of credit and foreclosure. For the website, and more information on foreclosure prevention, go to www.pinellascounty.org/foreclosure.
Find Affordable Rental Housing!
 Find available housing that best fits your needs. This service can be accessed online 24 hours a day and is supported by a toll-free, bilingual call center M – F, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST.
NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY_______________________________
Pinellas County Housing Development Funding
The application period for mixed-income rental and owner housing development activities will continue on an ongoing basis until funds are depleted. Click here for a copy of the application form.
Pinellas County Housing Trust Fund
Pinellas County received $1,818,118 in Pinellas County Community Housing Trust Fund dollars during Fiscal Year 2008-2009. The application period for these funds will continue on an ongoing basis until the funds are depleted.
Request for Qualifications to Administer Housing Programs
On an ongoing basis, we accept qualifications from licensed professional service providers with the capability to administer housing programs available through Pinellas County. New organizations will need to submit the original RFQ document as instructed. Please disregard the due date indicated in the document. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Information for Minority and Women's Business Enterprises
The Pinellas County Community Development Department is committed to providing equal opportunity for minority and women business enterprises (MBE/WBE).
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