New Bedford residents invited to attend public meeting via Zoom on federal funding for COVID response

New Bedford, Massachusetts– The City of New Bedford’s Office of Housing and Community Development will hold a community forum to discuss the best use of federal funding to improve the quality of life for New Bedford residents specifically related to preventing, preparing for and responding to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The public meeting will be held virtually via Zoom and can be accessed live on Thursday, June 11, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the following web address:

ZOOM MEETING

Meeting ID: 918 4297 6905

Password: 253364

Telephone Access: 1-646-558-8656

This public meeting is hosted by the City and designed to gather critical input from New Bedford residents.  The public input will assist the City in formulating its strategy in the utilization of federal funding to address needs and priorities in the areas of public services, community services, homelessness resources and economic development.  Input from the community is integral in shaping the priorities of these federal programs.

The City of New Bedford anticipates receiving  $1,624,151 in Community Development Block Grant COVID (CDBG-CV) and $805,424 In Emergency Solutions Grant COVID (ESG-CV) funding for the purpose of serving low and moderate income residents and neighborhoods in Fiscal Year 2019 which runs from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020.

Residents are encouraged to attend the upcoming virtual public meeting and share their thoughts as to how the City may best allocate its supplemental federal funding intended to address our current public health crisis.

The public meeting will include a brief presentation by the City’s Office of Housing & Community Development staff, including results from an assessment conducted as to needs and priorities for CDBG-CV and ESG-CV funding.  Information about the application process through an RFP will also be presented.

The meeting will be an excellent opportunity for citizens to voice their opinions about how the City can best use its federal money to improve the quality of life in New Bedford and to suggest specific programs or activities needed to address and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Questions regarding this public meeting may be directed to the Office of Housing & Community Development staff at OHCD@newbedford-ma.gov.