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Home My WebLink AboutPR 19298: HUD PROMISE ZONE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTNERING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM ___ 117(;, !; Cinrf -z, 441 ♦/ or/ mbar 7<c.rc INTEROF MORANDUM DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIVISION OF HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION DATE: FEBRUARY 2,2016 TO: BRIAN MCDOUGAL,CITY MANAGER FROM: MARY E.ESSEX, GRANTS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR RE: P.R. 19298 NATURE OF REQUEST: The City of Port Arthur will submit an application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD)for the third and final Promise Zone competition. STAFF ANALYSIS CONSIDERATIONS: The Description of the Promise Zones Initiative: The Promise Zones initiative seeks to revitalize high- poverty communities across the country by creating jobs, increasing economic activity, improving educational opportunities, reducing violent crime, leveraging private capital,and assisting local leaders in navigating federal programs. Promise Zones will not receive grant funding. The Promise Zone designation creates an intensive partnership among the Federal government and local leaders who are investing in what works to address multiple community revitalization challenges in a collaborative way, and have demonstrated accountability to clear goals and a commitment to results. Subject to the limitations described below,Promise Zone Designees will receive: • Opportunity to engage Five AmeriCorps VISTA members in the Promise Zone • A federal liaison assigned to assist with navigating federal programs. • Preferences for certain competitive federal programs and technical assistance from participating agencies. • Promise Zone tax incentives, if enacted by Congress. RECOMMENDATIONS: I recommend that the City Council adopt Proposed Resolution 19298 to approve the 2016 application process for the City of Port Arthur to be designated as a Promise Zone. BUDGET CONSIDERATION: Staffing level will remain unchanged. P.R. No. 19298 2/2/16 ME- Grants Management RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR TO BE DESIGNATED AS A HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) PROMISE ZONE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTNERING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CREATE JOBS, LEVERAGE PRIVATE INVESTMENT, INCREASE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, EXPAND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND REDUCE CRIME. WHEREAS, the President of the United States has established an initiative to designate a number of high priority communities as Promise Zones, as delineated Exhibit "A"; and, WHEREAS, the Federal Government will partner with and invest in communities to create jobs, leverage private investment, increase economic activity, expand educational activities, and reduce crime; and, WHEREAS, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) intends to designate six urban communities and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to designate at least one rural and at least one tribal community; and WHEREAS, competitions for the remaining round of designations will commence in calendar year 2016. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR: THAT the City Manager of the City of Port Arthur is hereby authorized to complete the application process for the City of Port Arthur to be designated as a HUD "Promise Zone". THAT a copy of the caption of this Resolution be spread upon the minutes of the City Council. READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED this day of , 2016 A.D., at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas by the following vote: AYES: MAYOR: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: DELORIS PRINCE, MAYOR ATTEST: SHERRI BELLARD CITY SECRETARY APVROV L D FOR FORM: VALTIZE 4 • CITY ATTORNEY APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: BRIAN MCDOUGAL CITY MANAGER EXHIBIT "A" QQVIIIIIII -vs TOF5'0cP* * � 2o, iIIiiIIi rw2 9e4N D E'J U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Julian Castro, Secretary Tom Vilsack, Secretary HUD No. 15-161 FOR RELEASE Cameron French Friday 202-708-0685 December 18,2015 http://www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm USDA Office of Communications 202 720 4623 OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES COMPETITION TO DESIGNATE THE THIRD AND FINAL ROUND OF PROMISE ZONES WASHINGTON -Today, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development(HUD) Secretary Julian Castro and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that communities may now apply to be designated a Promise Zone under the third and final round competition. Promise Zones are high poverty communities where the federal government partners with local leaders to increase economic activity, improve educational opportunities, leverage private investment, reduce violent crime, enhance public health and address other priorities identified by the community. Through the Promise Zone designation, communities will work directly with federal, state and local agencies to give local leaders proven tools to improve the quality of life in some of the country's most vulnerable areas. "Promise Zones are transforming communities through targeted investments and the breaking down of government siloes to make a real difference in people's lives," said HUD Secretary Julian Castro. "We believe where you live shouldn't determine what you can achieve. This initiative will be part of the lasting legacy from the Obama Administration and we look forward to witnessing these neighborhoods of opportunity grow in the years and decades ahead." "This initiative is bringing much-needed,targeted investments and creating ladders of economic opportunity in impoverished rural and tribal areas that have the greatest needs," said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The success of our work in these Promise Zones is predicated upon public-private partnerships that will lay the groundwork for a more sustainable future for children and families in rural areas." Any community meeting the eligibility criteria which includes having a contiguous boundary, a high poverty rate and a population within the area not exceeding 200,000 residents, can apply for a designation. HUD and USDA will designate 7 Promise Zones across urban, rural and tribal communities for the final round. The deadline for submitting Promise Zone applications is Tuesday, February 23,2016 at 5:00PM Eastern Time. Announcements will be made in the Spring of 2016. Each urban, rural, and tribal Promise Zone applicant will be asked to put together a clear description of how the Promise Zone designation would accelerate and strengthen the community's own efforts at comprehensive community revitalization. Once designated, each Promise Zone will be coordinated by a lead community based organization in partnership with the Obama Administration. HUD will be the federal lead for the urban designees, while USDA will serve as the lead federal partner to the tribal and rural Promise Zones. All Promise Zones will receive priority access to federal investments that further their strategic plans, federal staff on the ground to help them implement their goals, and five full-time AmeriCorps VISTA members to recruit and manage volunteers and strengthen the capacity of the Promise Zone initiatives. Communities with an existing Promise Zone designation are: San Antonio, TX, Los Angeles, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Southeastern Kentucky Highlands, The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Minneapolis, MN, Sacramento, CA, Indianapolis, IN. Camden, NJ, Hartford, CT, St Louis, MO, Pine Ridge, SD and Low Country of South Carolina. To provide additional details and answer questions from communities interested in applying, HUD and USDA will host three separate webcasts for urban,rural, and tribal communities in January and February. The schedule for the webcasts is as follows: Urban Webcasts: January 13, 2016, 11:00a.m Eastern Standard Time February 1, 2016, 2:30p.m. Eastern Standard Time Rural Webcast: January 13, 2016, 1:30p.m. Eastern Standard Time Tribal Webcast: January 13, 2016, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time The third round application guides, updated frequently asked questions, upcoming informational webcasts and webinars has been posted on the Promise Zones website.