Julia Menzo, of Lansdale, speaks during a public hearing about federal Hurricane Ida recovery dollars Wednesday night in Montgomeryville. (Credit: Rachel Ravina / MediaNews Group)
Hybrid sessions slated for noon on Aug. 12, 6 p.m. on Aug. 14 in Norristown and Zoom
Flooding and a tornado in the 2021 storm destroyed housing, infrastructure and facilities in Montgomery County that have not been rebuilt. Officials aim to request at least $14.6 million for housing, infrastructure, mitigation, and administrative projects through a community development block grant, according to a public notice issued on July 30.
“The county seeks funding to address the impacts of Hurricane Ida on low-and-moderate-income households, meet urgent needs, and increase resiliency to lessen the impact of future disasters,” the public notice states.
Officials have until Aug. 23 to submit an application for disaster recovery funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Meetings will take place at noon on Monday, August 12, and and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14 on the second floor of One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede St. in Norristown. Those interested in attending can also do so virtually via Zoom.
The September 2021 storm produced historic flooding, an EF-2 tornado and caused widespread damage across the region.
“We encourage all interested parties to attend the public hearings and comment on the proposed activities and funding requests,” the public notice states.
Anticipated topics for next week’s sessions are slated to include discussions surrounding “Montgomery County’s community development and housing needs,” according to a public notice, along with “efforts to affirmatively further fair housing and the proposed activities for the CDBG-DR application.”
Monday’s meeting will cover “infrastructure, mitigation, and housing needs,” while Wednesday’s hearing will focus on the grant application.
Anyone interested in submitting comments in writing can do so by emailing Montgomery County’s Housing and Community Development Administrator Kayleigh Silver at Kayleigh.Silver@montgomerycountpa.gov or sending a letter to the County of Montgomery Board of Commissioners c/o Office of Housing & Community Development, P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311.
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