Rome Community Development

The City of Rome Community Development Department's primary responsibility lies in making applications for and administration of awards from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs' (DCA) Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP). These awards are made as grants to the City and then must be used for approved projects and activities that primarily benefit low and moderate income persons in our City. Activities fall into the general categories of: public facilities such as: the Boys and Girls Clubs in South Rome or the Kelsey-Aycock-Burrell Center in North Rome; public infrastructures such as: the street/drainage/or sidewalk improvements on Lyons Drive in West Rome; or housing such as: new construction, rehabilitation, etc. that are city wide. Management of grant- funded projects and planning for future activities are also very important duties of the Community Development Department.

Mission

Our goal is to improve the quality of life for our citizens through innovative programs in the areas of housing, economic development and public facilities by partnering with federal and state funding sources to augment local public and private equity.

Programs and Services

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Housing Programs
Economic Development

News and Announcements

The City of Rome Community Development Department is proposing to amend BOTH the 2019-2023 Consolidated Plan and the 2019 Annual Action Plan for use of the Community Development Block Grant Entitlement (CDBG) funds.

This amendment is in accordance with 24 CFR 91.05(c)(2) and subpart B of the federal regulations relative to citizen participation for CDBG programs, and applicable waivers made available to those requirements through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

As part of this amendment, the City has revised the Consolidated Plan’s Citizen Participation Plan to include the 5-day comment period and virtual hearing allowed as an expedited review by a HUD waiver due to COVID-19. Both the 2019-2023 Consolidated Plan (which includes the 2019 Action Plan) and the amended Citizen Participation Plan are found linked below for review and comment.

Public Comment Period and Process:
This Consolidated Plan/Action Plan/Citizen Participation Plan amendment is available for a 5-day public review and comment period from May 1, 2020 through May 5, 2020. Citizens wishing to submit written comments during the public review and comment period may email them to bfox@romega.us or mail them (postmarked no later than 5/5/20) to the following: City of Rome Community Development Department, Attention: Bekki Fox, P.O. Box 1433, Rome, GA. 30162-1433

The proposed use of the new funds allocated to Rome through the CARES Act is to create a small business emergency assistance grant program that will provide up to $5,000 for eligible businesses that retain or create one job for a low/moderate income employee. The funds must be used for day-to-day businesses expenses (such as rent, mortgage, utilities and other fixes costs). Eligible businesses must show a 30% decline in revenue during the pandemic period. Other eligibility criteria will apply.

Citizen Participation Plan Amendment 4-2020

Amended 2019-2023 Con Plan and 2019 Action Plan- CV Funds

Public Notice for COVID-19