CDBG-MITIGATION
Action Plan
Notice
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 in 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.
Programs
Housing And Public Services
$203,000,000
- Multi-family House: The Multifamily Housing Program is designed to facilitate the rehabilitation and reconstruction of multi-family developments, aiming to repair, restore, and augment the affordable housing stock.
- New Home Construction:The New Home Construction Program, utilizing allocated funding,
focuses on redeveloping and establishing new affordable housing
stock. Eligible development activities encompass the creation of
housing units and substantial rehabilitation of vacant, uninhabitable
dwellings to increase the overall housing availability. - Homeless Housing Initiative:The Homeless Housing Initiative addresses the temporary emergency
housing needs of the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. It
covers eligible costs for the rehabilitation or replacement of existing
emergency housing and provides funding to support service providers
offering aid through essential services. - Innovative and Resilient Housing:The Innovative and Resilient Housing Program promotes the adoption
of architectural and construction techniques to create robust and
resilient housing. Emphasizing economic development costs, this
initiative aims to encourage innovative approaches to sustainable and
durable housing solutions. - Public Services:The Public Services Program is aimed at offering employment training,
childcare, health services, substance abuse treatment and counseling,
educational programs, fair housing counseling, as well as services
catering to senior citizens and various other needs.
Questions? Contact: Jamilie Perez (340)772-4432
Infrastructure and Public Facilities
$363,000,000
- Community Resilience and Public Facility Funding: The Community Resilience and Public Facilities Program is aimed at
the need for sufficient and permanent emergency shelters by
facilitating the construction or rehabilitation of versatile facilities
specifically designed for disaster preparedness, addressing shelter
needs during disasters, and responding to other emergencies. - Resilient Critical and Natural Infrastructure:The Resilient Critical and Natural Infrastructure Program is focused on
advancing the adaptation to climate change through the management
of natural infrastructure assets that provide municipal and ecosystem
services while providing effective solutions for minimizing coastal
flooding, erosion, and runoff.
Questions? Contact (340)772-4432
Economic Resilience and Revitalization
$75,000,000
- Commercial Hardening and Financing:The Commercial Hardening and Financing program intent is to upgrade
eligible commercial\private buildings and return them to business uses
and ensure the ability for such facilities to operate during emergencies.
Alternate harbor/port sites may be eligible for program funding.
Commercial Hardening and Funding will be comprised of two project
activities: Commercial Resilience and Façade and Maritime Industrial
Harbor Improvements. - Small Business Mitigation:Small Business Mitigation program creates a supportive business
environment with easier access to capital and adequate technical
support.
Questions? Contact (340)772-4432
Applicant Eligibility
Under the CDBG-Mitigation Program, VIHFA partners with:
– Units of the Government of the USVI (autonomous and semi-autonomous instrumentalities)
– Providers (nonprofits and for-profits) of supporting services for vulnerable populations.
– Developers
Project Dashboard
Projects?
Public Outreach Meetings
Public hearings to discuss proposed programs and activities funded by CDBG-MIT were held on July 12 and 19, 2023. The public comment period for the MIT action plan was open from July 6 to August 7, 2023.
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.
View Public Outreach Meetings
VIHFA hosted a Town Hall meeting via Go To Meeting and telephone to provide an overview on the CDBG-MIT Federal Register, outlining the rules and regulations tied to the Territory’s allocation and gathering comment.
July 9, 2020 –VIHFA hosted a Town Hall meeting via Zoom, telephone, and simulcast on Facebook Liveto provide an overview on the CDBG-MIT Federal Register, outlining the rules and regulations tied to the Territory’s allocation and gathering comments.
August 6, 2020 – VIHFA hosted a Town Hall meeting via Zoom and simulcast on radio station 107.9FM Da Vybe to provide an overview of the CDBG-MIT Federal Register, outlining the rules and regulations tied to the Territory’s allocation and gathering comments.
November 12, 2020– VIHFA hosted a Town Hall meeting via Zoom and simulcast on Facebook Live to receive feedback and comments following the publication of the Action Plan Draft.
November 19, 2020 – VIHFA hosted a Town Hall meeting via Zoom and simulcast on Facebook Live to receive feedback and comments following the publication of the Action Plan Draft.
December 3, 2020 VIHFA hosted a Town Hall meeting via Zoom and simulcast on Facebook Live to receive feedback and comments following the publication of the Action Plan Draft.