CDBG-ELECTRICAL
Updates
The Territory’s CDBG – Electrical Action Plan to spend $67.6 million for the electrical power grid is published and the Authority is soliciting comments and feedback.
Federal Register Notice FR-6261-N-01 was issued June 22, 2021
Overview
On April 10, 2018, HUD allocated nearly $28 billion in Community Development Block Grant disaster recovery (CDBG–DR) funds appropriated by the Further Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2018. HUD allocated $10.03 billion for the purpose of addressing unmet needs from disasters that occurred n 2017; $2 billion for enhanced or improved electrical power systems in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; and $15.9 billion for mitigation activities. This notice governs he use of the $2 billion CDBG–DR allocation for enhanced or improved electrical power systems in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
What is CDBG-MIT?
Hurricanes Irma and Maria had a devastating impact on the United States Virgin Islands. The two back-to-back Category 5 storms in September 2017 caused significant destruction to housing, infrastructure, and the economy in the Territory.
HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) Program supports strategic and high-impact activities to mitigate disaster risks and reduce future losses by lessening the impact of future disasters.
HUD mitigation activities increase resilience to disasters, reducing or eliminating the long-term risk of loss of life, injury, damage to and loss of property, and suffering and hardship. Learn more about the CDBG-MIT Program.
The U.S. Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA) manages this money, submitting to HUD the Territory’s CDBG-MIT Action Plan prior to expending the CDBG-MIT funds. The plan proposes activities to address unmet infrastructure and public facilities, economic resilience, housing, public services, and planning needs, in accordance with HUD requirements and public input, using data-driven decision making to establish priorities.
CDBG-MIT Action Plan
As with CDBG-DR, VIHFA must submit a distinct CDBG-MIT Action Plan, which now is due to HUD no later than January 4, 2021.
The Territory’s CDBG-MIT Action Plan must meet the requirements set forth by HUD in Federal Register Vol. 84, No. 169 (August 30, 2019), 84 FR 45838, and Federal Register Vol. 85 No. 17 (January 27, 2020), 85 FR 4676. In general, these requirements include:
- Connecting mitigation programs and projects to identify risks in the Territory.
- A Mitigation Needs Assessment, which takes into consideration characteristics and impacts of current and future hazards that put at risk indispensable infrastructure and services.
- Consideration of the potential impacts that mitigation activities may have on the seven (7) community lifelines encompassed in the nationwide planning model set forth by FEMA and adopted by HUD, which include:
- Energy
- Food, Water, and Shelter
- Health and Medical
- Safety and Security
- Communication accessibility
- Hazardous Materials
- Transportation
- Long-term planning and risk mitigation considerations that promote local and regional planning and implementation are informed by the Mitigation Needs Assessment in consultation with the public, the private sector, and government agencies.
- Robust citizen participation through the scheduling of at least five (5) public hearings held at different times in the planning process to seek community input.
CDBG-DR Programs’ Allocation Status
Disaster Recovery
$1,080,000,000
CDBG-DR - Mitigation
$774,188,000
CDBG DR - Electrical
$67, 653,000
Public Outreach Meetings
Public hearings to discuss proposed programs and activities funded by CDBG-MIT were held on November 12 and 19, 2020. The public comment period for the MIT action plan was open from November 4 to December 22.
Below are links to the meeting recordings.
Public Outreach Meetings
VIHFA has held a series of virtual and in-person public meetings during the development of the action plans for citizens affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria since the global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) of 2020.