Community Development Planning Division

Current Action Plan

The department administers a variety of federal, state and local resources to address the county's community development needs. The County's four major areas of interest are: housing, neighborhood improvements in Targeted Areas, Special District activities, and facilities serving low/moderate-income households including special needs populations. Funds are allocated to non profit partners to carry out activities to support objectives specified in approved neighborhood plans.

Funding Sources
Pinellas County uses CDBG and SHIP funds to benefit residents located in the Urban County (all unincorporated areas and twenty cooperating cities). HOME funds are used to benefit residents of the Pinellas County Consortium (Urban County and the City of Largo). ESG funds will benefit homeless in facilities located outside the city limits of St. Petersburg, except that facilities offering services for homeless unaccompanied youth or homeless ex-offenders may be located anywhere in Pinellas County.

• CDBG
  The goal of the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is to provide decent housing and a suitable living environment, principally for low and moderate income households, and to eliminate blighting conditions. Eligible activities include housing rehabilitation and preservation, public facilities and improvements, public infrastructure, clearance and demolition, economic development, public services, and housing services.
  
  
• HOME -
  Eligible activities under HOME include construction, rehabilitation, and/or acquisition in order to expand the supply of decent and affordable housing, and home ownership assistance. - • Fair Housing for HOME Participants
  
  
• ESG
  ESG funds are used to rehabilitate shelters serving the homeless and to provide operating funds and essential supportive services.
  
  
• SHIP
  SHIP funds are used for emergency repairs, new construction, rehabilitation, down payment and closing cost assistance, impact fees, construction and gap financing, mortgage buy-downs, acquisition of property for affordable housing, matching for federal housing grants and programs, and home ownership counseling.

Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County
The Housing Finance Authority was created by the Board of County Commissioners in 1982. HFA issues tax-exempt Mortgage Revenue Bonds that lowers the cost of financing for single-family and multi-family housing.

Consolidated Action Plan
Every 5 years the Department develops a consolidated Action plan along with the City of Largo to address the county's affordable housing and community development needs. An action plan is prepared annually to strategically meet the needs and goals of the Consolidated plan.

CAPER
A Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) provides a comprehensive overview and explanation of how federal resources were used to address goals established in the consolidated plan.
Programs Divisions Activities 10/1/2006 – 9/30/2007

Cooperation Agreements
Cooperation Agreements have been executed between Twenty municipalities that participate in the County's CDBG program. These municipalities along with the un-incorporated areas of Pinellas County make up the Urban County.

Citizen Participation Plan
Information is made available to citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties on the amount of assistance the jurisdiction is expected to receive (including grant funds and program income), the range of activities that may be undertaken, the estimated amount of funding that will benefit persons of low and moderate income and specific activities to be funded, including locations.