The City of Brownsville ("the City") is an Entitlement City in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program, and a Participating Jurisdiction in the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME). As part of the City of Brownsville's current Citizen Participation Plan (CPP), public notice and public hearings are required for Substantial Amendments to the City's Annual Action Plan. As per the City's CPP and 24 CFR Part 91, the City will amend its approved plan whenever it makes one of the following decisions:

1. To make a change in the goal, priority, or activity of the Consolidated Plan; or
2. To carry out an activity, using funds from any program covered by the Consolidated Plan (including program income), not previously covered in the Action Plan; or
3. To change the purpose, scope, location, or beneficiaries of an activity included in the annual action plan.

Further, a substantial amendment to the Consolidated Plan or Annual Action Plan is defined by the City as a transfer between two or more Plan activities that is greater than 50% of the ESG program funds, 40% of the HOME program funds, and 30% of the CDBG program funds.

Notice is hereby given that the City of Brownsville (City) is considering a Substantial Amendment to the 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020 One Year Action Plans (October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2020).  The City is an Entitlement Community in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. 

Proposed Changes:

1.    Addition to the Annual Action Plan 2019: The City of Brownsville is proposing to add an activity to the Annual Action Plan 2019. The City of Brownsville proposes to fund Community Development Corporation of Brownsville (Come Dream. Come Build)’ Samano Project. The Samano Project will consist of acquisition and rehabilitation of a building for forty (40) affordable rental units for low-income residents. The funding for this project will consist of uncommitted CDBG entitlement funds from years 2017, 2018 & 2019 as illustrated in the table below: 

Comment Period: The City is accepting written comments on this proposed Substantial Amendment for a 30-day period beginning Tuesday, February 9, 2021 and ending at 5:00p.m. on Friday, March 12, 2021.  Any interested party may submit their written comments to Mr. Efren Trujillo, Assistant Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives, RE: Substantial Amendment Public Input, 1150 E. Adams St., 3r^d Floor, Brownsville, TX 78520; Phone: (956) 548-6167; e-mail: efren.trujillo@cob.us ; fax: (956) 548-6161. Residents may also submit their electronic comments via Survey Monkey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SUBSTANTIALAMENDMENT

Virtual Public Hearings:   In addition to the 30-day comment period, (2) two Virtual Public Hearings on the proposed change will take place via Webex:

• February 25, 2021 (4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.):  Residents may log in using the following link: https://brownsville.webex.com/brownsville/j.php?MTID=m4a79d99c3c09b4a88c2bfdf2ba7da840, meeting number: 187 682 3132, password: hearing. Residents may also join by telephone, calling + 1-408-418-9388, access code: 187 682 3132. 

• March 4, 2021 (4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.): Residents may log in using the following link: https://brownsville.webex.com/brownsville/j.php?MTID=m5eb85d136fb9b3ab7f06b9d1c0574087, meeting number: 187 551 4496, password: hearing. Residents may also join by telephone, calling + 1-408-418-9388, access code: 187 551 4496.