The second public hearing for the 2023 Community Development Block Grant Program was held at the Monroe County commissioners’ meeting on Oct. 4.

Martha Robbins, the executive director of the Monroe County Redevelopment Authority, said the hearing was held in order to gain citizens’ views and comments on the use of the funds, including for entitlement allocations. She went over how the funds would be used by Monroe County, East Stroudsburg Borough and Stroudsburg Borough.

The county is seeking $675,168 in 2023 CBDG fund allocations. For Monroe County, $329,208 would go toward owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, while $72,265 would go to program administration for a total of $401,473.

East Stroudsburg Borough would get $129,302 for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation, and $28,383 for program administration. The total would be $157,685. Stroudsburg Borough would get $95,129 for street and road improvements, which would be used to repair Kraemer Avenue. Another $20,383 would go for program administration, for an overall total of $116,010.

After the public hearing, the commissioners passed a resolution approving the application to be submitted by the redevelopment authority. The redevelopment authority plans to submit the 2023 CDBG Block Grant application on or about Oct. 27 to the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

In other business, the commissioners approved the following items concerning various grants:

• Authorize the finance director/grants officer and Computer Department director to submit these grant applications electronically: Municipal Assistance Program - Shared Services and Planning Grant; State and Local Cybersecurity - Intrusion Detention Services Grant; State and Local Cybersecurity - Security Awareness Service Grant; and COVID-19 Mitigation in Local and County Confinement Facilities Grant;

• Authorizing the grants manager to electronically accept the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant Program grant in the amount of $20,957;

• 2023/2024 fiscal year budgets: American Recovery Plan - $15,373,904; Continuum of Care/Rapid Rehousing - $254,529; The Emergency Food Assistance Program - $65,495; Victims of Crime Act (Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2024) - $184,552; and Emergency Food and Shelter Program - $2,811;

• 2023-2024 Human Services Development Fund Grant Sub-Recipient Contracts: Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health and Development Services - Adult Services - $48,000; Sights for Hope - Generic Services - $10,157; Pocono Services for Families and Children - Children and Youth - $26,000;

• 2023-2024 Homeless Assistance Program Grant sub-recipient contracts: Family Promise of Monroe County for emergency shelter - $10,294; Pocono Area Transitional Housing for bridge housing - $10,294; Salvation Army of Monroe County for emergency shelter - $10,294; Resources for Human Development for case management - $4,000; Woman’s Resources of Monroe County Inc. for emergency shelter - $10,294;

• Authorizing submission of the 2022-2023 Homeless Assistance Program/Human Services Development Fund NBG Report: HAP - $113,195; HSDF - $93,507.

• 2023 Emergency Management Performance Grant Agreement for $78,027 from Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023.