Grants and Community Development

The Grants and Community Development Department handles the research, writing, reporting, and management of all federal, state, and private grant funds for the City of Jonesboro.  In addition, this department is charged with promoting community development, economic development, fair housing practices, neighborhood revitalization and services to low and moderate income citizens, minorities, elderly, and mentally and/or physically handicapped populations. This department continuously finds innovative ways to fund city projects.  In 2012, the city expanded its scope of funding streams by applying for private grant funds in an effort to diversify funding sources and increase revenue. This effort was tremendously successful and the strategy will continue.

The Grants and Community Development Department is made up of five key staff who all work as team to deliver services both internally to other departments and externally to the citizens of Jonesboro. Please find their contact information on the “contact us” tab of this web page. Any one of them are readily available to answer questions and assist.

Several programs are offered to the low and moderate citizens of Jonesboro and funded through our Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), of which we receive yearly from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The amount of funds we receive each year are based on a formula designed by HUD and the activities funded are determined by the citizens, the Grants and Community Development staff, the Mayor, and the City Council.  More information regarding these programs can be found on the “programs” tab of this web page.

Programs

Emergency Homeowner Rehab:

Intention of program: To remedy emergency health & safety issues for low-income homeowners. The City of Jonesboro Grants & Community Development Department will provide Homeowner Emergency Rehabilitation services to qualifying citizens of Jonesboro for emergency repairs that directly address immediate health and safety issues.

Qualifications:

• Must have an emergency situation
• Must be the legal Homeowner of a detached single family home
• Must have homeowner’s insurance
• Residence must be within the City limits of Jonesboro and not in a flood zone
• Family income must meet Federal Income Guidelines (based on household size and total gross income.)
• The home must be economically feasible to rehabilitate.
  
  Note: This is a 5 year forgivable grant. 20% forgiven annually until the 5 year term has been met. A lien, guaranteeing future repayment of the assistance provided will be recorded against your property until said date.

Emergency Repairs Include:

• Accessibility Improvements
• Electrical Repairs
• Plumbing Repairs
• Heat and Air Repairs
• Damaged and Leaking Roof Repairs
• Needed Windows and Door Replacement
• Alleviate Lead Paint and other Health and Safety Hazards

Emergency Repair Application (.pdf)

Homeowner Rehab:

Intention of Program:  CDBG funds may be used to assist qualifying homeowners with the repair, rehabilitation or reconstruction of owner-occupied units.  Funds may also be used for grants, loans, loan guarantees, interest subsidies, or other forms of assistance to homeowners for the purpose of repairs, rehabilitation, or reconstruction.
The City of Jonesboro Grants & Community Development Department will provide Homeowner Rehabilitation services to qualifying citizens of Jonesboro in order to provide decent, safe, livable and sanitary housing conditions. 

Qualifications: 

• Must be the legal Homeowner of a detached single family home
• Must have homeowner’s insurance
• Residence must be within the City limits of Jonesboro and not in a flood zone
• Family income must meet Federal Income Guidelines (based on household size and total gross income.)
• The home must be economically feasible to rehabilitate.
  
  Note: This is a 5 year forgivable grant. 20% forgiven annually until the 5 year term has been met. A lien, guaranteeing future repayment of the assistance provided will be recorded against your property until said date.

Homeowner Repairs Include:

• Labor and materials,
• Replacement of principal fixtures and components of existing structures;
• Water and sewer connections;
• Installation of security devices, including smoke detectors; and
• Initial homeowner warranty premium;
• Hazard insurance premium (except when a grant is provided);
• Flood insurance premium;
• Conservation costs for water and energy efficiency;
• Landscaping, sidewalks, garages, and driveways when accompanied with other rehabilitation needed on the property.

Homeowner Repair Application (.pdf)

Homeowner Assitance:

Intention of program: Owning a home is part of the American Dream.  The Grants & Community Development team can assist those trying to achieve homeowner status with the application of CDBG funding.  One of our primary goals is to help expand home ownership opportunities to our low and moderate income citizens.

Qualifications:

• First Time Home buyer
• Home must be a single family detached dwelling
• Home must be purchased within in the City of Jonesboro
• Buyer must commit to occupy the property as their principal residence for at least the next three consecutive years
• Property must meet HUD Minimum Housing Quality Standards
• Household must meet Federal Income Guidelines (based on household size and total gross income) Please see chart for income eligibility
• Grant assistance for closing cost “out of pocket expense” of the buyer paid directly to the Title company
• Total grant amount cannot exceed $2,500
• Applicant must complete First Time Home buyer Education Course with the local HUD approved counseling service.

    Assistance Includes:

• Provide up to 50 percent of required down payment;
• Pay reasonable closing costs;
• Provide principal write-down assistance;
• Subsidize interest rates;
• Finance acquisition; and
• Acquire guarantees for mortgage financing from private lenders (i.e., assist homebuyers with private mortgage insurance).

Demolition and Clearance:

Intention of program: To assist the low income homeowner whose property is facing condemnation and/or poses a health or safety risk. This program provides the funds for the demolition f the structure while allowing the owner to maintain ownership of the property without the standard condemnation lien.

Qualifications:

• Legal Homeowner
• Must meet Federal Income Guidelines (see chart:  *References)
• Residence must be within the City of Jonesboro and in CDBG designated area

*Total cost must not exceed current standard (call for details)

North Jonesboro Neighborhood Initiative

Intention of Program:  Lead by the Grants and Community Development Department, the North Jonesboro Neighborhood Initiative (NJNI) was established in response to a fundamental condition that consistently undercuts even the most successful community development efforts: Chronic Disengagement. Unfortunately, while our community development field is engineered to build the physical things communities need – new homes, community centers, and small businesses – and to some extent, to influence the policies that support those products, we are not designed to attack this condition. Community development groups must confront the possibility that if we do not empower residents and build engagement, we are ignoring one of the key challenges in the field today. If we continue to ignore this landscape, we are undermining all our other efforts.

The North Jonesboro Neighborhood Initiative was developed as a response to the concerns of caring citizens. The members of the initiative met with technical assistance from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation to address the issues of residents living in the North Jonesboro neighborhood. Three networks were established to bring the residents together. Projects were developed from the networks and continue their work today.

The stakeholders of the North Jonesboro Neighborhood Initiative agree that the key to a successful initiative is to engage the residents by fostering an environment of trust and mutual respect. This response includes a “networking strategy” that connects people to each other and to their communities. By providing abundant opportunities for people to come together, connect with each other, and determine their own responses to these challenges, the neighborhood and community will flourish and thrive with genuine, positive growth.

VISION
Collaborative community change strategies where engaged residents, local businesses, faith communities, social service providers and funders work together to build vibrant neighborhoods, foster community cohesion, and build a strong infrastructure of services and supports for families.

MISSION
To encourage two-way communications between neighbors, residents, stakeholders, and officials to participate in the decision making process to enhance safety, strengthen families, and transform neighborhoods through involvement and engagement.

CORE VALUES

• Healthy Families
• Quality Education
• Financial Stability
• Working Infrastructure
• Community Support Systems

Resources

Housing and Urban Development: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD

Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration: http://www.arkansas.gov/adfa/

DO YOU QUALIFY?
To qualify for CDBG funds, a project must meet the Low and Moderate Income (LMI) Benefit National Objective. This means that an activity must benefit LMI persons or households. This is accomplished by serving individuals or households that earn 80 percent of area median income (AMI) and below (see chart below), or by serving persons presumed to be LMI such as those with special needs, persons with disabilities, homeless persons and the elderly. Another way to meet the LMI benefit criteria is to provide a service that assists a minimum of 51 percent low and moderate-income persons OR the project must be located in an area predominantly inhabited by LMI residents.

Each program has specific requirements - however - ALL programs require that the following Family Income Guidelines be met:

FY 2013 HUD LOW & MODERATE INCOME GUIDELINES SUMMARY
http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/il/il13/index_il2013.html 

FY 2013 HUD LOW & MODERATE INCOME GUIDELINES SUMMARY

2013 Action Plan

2013 CDBG RFP Application

2013 Action Plan Survey

2012-2016 Consolidated Plan

CDBG Program Guidelines

2012 CAPER

NJNI Strategic Plan

FY 2012 ADFA Application Packet

Contact Us

Heather Clements, Grants Administrator
Email Me

519 West Washington Ave

Jonesboro, AR 72401

Emma Agnew, NJNI Community Services Coordinator
Email Me

519 West Washington Ave

Jonesboro, AR 72401

519 West Washington Ave

Jonesboro, AR 72401

519 West Washington Ave

Jonesboro, AR 72401