Notices: Economic Development & Affordable Housing

CITY OF CLEARWATER 

FY 2026 (2026/2027) ANNUAL ACTION PLAN 

30-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD & PUBLIC HEARINGS 

The City of Clearwater is hereby publishing the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Annual Action Plan (AAP) to allocate federal funding from the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The AAP identifies projects and activities to be implemented by the City during FY 2026 (2026/2027), which begins on October 1, 2026, and ends on September 30, 2027. CDBG funds are used to provide decent housing, suitable living environments, and economic opportunities to principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons. HOME funds are used to foster private sector partnerships with for-profit and non-profit organizations to develop affordable housing.  

In addition to the entitlement grant, funding allocations include anticipated program income generated by the City’s Revolving Loan Fund as well as prior-year (i.e., carryover) resources from projects that were either cancelled or completed under budget to be applied toward new projects. The City of Clearwater anticipates an estimated $912,662 in new CDBG funds, $33,206 in CDBG program income, and $571,930 in prior-year CDBG resources. An estimated $538,976 will be sourced from the City’s Revolving Loan Fund. The City also anticipates an estimated $360,339.74 in new HOME funds, $1,978,910 in HOME program income, and $2,555,964 in prior-year HOME resources. These funds will be programmed to eligible activities under these grant programs. 

The list below, organized by strategic goal, captures all proposed projects to be funded with CDBG and HOME resources in FY 2026 (2026/2027). Funding for these and other projects are estimated resources only and funding amounts may increase or decrease based upon actual program income, prior-year adjustments, and/or final federal funding allocations. Due to these and other factors, the City of Clearwater reserves the right to add or delete projects and/or adjust funding allocations proportionally. 

ESTIMATED RESOURCES 

Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) – Entitlement  $912,662 

CDBG - Program Income  $33,206 

CDBG - Prior-Year Resources  $571,930 

Revolving Loan Fund $538,976 

HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) – Entitlement  $360,339.74 

HOME - Program Income  $1,978,910 

HOME - Prior-Year Resources  $2,555,964 

TOTAL  $6,951,987.74 

PROPOSED PROJECTS 

Program Administration 

CDBG (from Entitlement) $182,532 

CDBG (from Program Income)  $4,400 

HOME (from Entitlement) $36,033 

HOME (from Program Income) $21,000 

Housing 

Creation and Preservation of Affordable Housing (Owner and Renter) $4,336,947.74  

Home Purchase Assistance/Loan Processing $674,750 

Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) $285,599 

Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Set-Aside $54,051 

Homelessness 

Homeless Empowerment Program (Emergency Shelter, Kitchen, and Clinic Facility Improvements) $224,000 

St. Vincent de Paul Community Kitchen and Resource Center (Kitchen Facility Improvements) $107,000 

WestCare GulfCoast Florida (A Turning Point Program) $43,000 

Metropolitan Ministries (NeighborHOPE Program) $43,000 

Non-Homeless Special Needs 

Hope Villages of America (Abuse Shelter Facility Improvements and Services Case Management) $165,899 

Community Development & Public Services 

Directions for Living (Collaboration Space Renovation) $168,000 

LiFT (Facility Improvements for Safety and Security) $82,000 

InterCultural Advocacy Institute (Victim Advocacy and Support Services) $25,000 

TBD-Public Facilities Projects $0 

Elimination of Slum & Blight (Property Acquisition & Demolition) $65,522 

Economic Development 

Prospera (Technical Assistance for LMI Businesses) $20,000 

WeeCare dba Upwards Care (Childcare BOOST Program)  $46,054 

Façade Improvement Program  $367,200 

Emergency/Disaster Response 

TBD – Disaster Relief (Funding amount TBD based on available resource and urgent need). $0 

TOTAL  $6,951,987.74 

The public comment period begins on May 27, 2026, and ends on June 26, 2026. Please send any comments to Dylan Mayeux, Housing Manager, City of Clearwater Economic Development and Housing Department, 100 S. Myrtle Ave., 3rd Floor Clearwater, FL  33756 or via telephone at 727-444-7168 or via email at Dylan.Mayeux@myclearwater.com before 5:00 p.m. on June 26, 2026 A draft copy of the proposed City of Clearwater FY 2026 (2026/2027) Annual Action Plan will be available for public comment beginning May 27, 2026, on the City’s website at https://www.myclearwater.com/My-Government/City-Departments/Economic-Development/Guiding-Documents-Plans-and-Reports. Hard copies will be available at the following locations for review during the public comment period: 

Additionally, the City of Clearwater will hold two public hearings to receive comments on the FY 2026 (2026/2027) Annual Action Plan prior to submittal to HUD. Both public hearings will be held in City Council Chambers in the Main Library located at 100 N. Osceola Ave., Clearwater, FL, 33755. The first public hearing will be a meeting of the Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisory Board (NAHAB) to be held on July 7, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The second public hearing will be a meeting of the Clearwater City Council to be held on July 16, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations to effectively participate in these meetings are asked to contact the City Clerk at (727) 444-7151 or rosemarie.call@myclearwater.com in advance. 

NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY (NOFA)

CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA

FY 2026-2027 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM

AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM

February 4, 2026

The City of Clearwater is accepting applications for FY 2026-2027 funding for eligible community development and housing projects under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program.

For Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 beginning October 1, 2026, the City of Clearwater anticipates to receive the following estimated grant allocation amounts from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

· CDBG Program: Estimated $925,886

· HOME Program: Estimated $400,221

In addition to the grant allocations, the City anticipates receiving program income generated from prior CDBG and HOME funded activities.

CDBG and HOME funds may only be used for activities conducted within the incorporated limits of the City of Clearwater. However, agencies located outside of the City may be eligible for funding if they provide documented services benefiting Clearwater residents.

These funds will primarily be used for housing, community, and economic development activities. A portion of the funds may be used for City conducted and/or sponsored projects and therefore may not be available for allocation to applicants. Funding availability is subject to federal program requirements.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Proposals for new projects will be accepted through the City’s online application portal according to the following schedule:

· Application Open Date: February 4, 2026

· Pre-application Meeting (technical assistance): February 13, 2026

· Application Deadline: March 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. · Apply online: https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/clearwaterfl/participant

Applications must be submitted through the online application portal and be in “Application Submitted” status no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2026.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Proposed projects should address one or more of the following strategies for FY 2026-2027:

· Promote improved opportunities in a designated Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA); NRSA maps are located at www.myclearwater.com/NRSAmaps

· Promote affordable housing for renters and/or homebuyers

· Promote efforts/activities to end chronic homelessness

· Provide outreach and housing opportunities for homeless individuals and families

· Provide assistance to victims of domestic violence

· Promote economic opportunities for very low- to moderate- income individuals

· Provide assistance to the elderly, persons with disabilities, and persons with HIV/AIDS

· Develop public facility projects in the NRSAs

· Promote efforts to reduce lead poisoning in children

· Promote opportunities to end poverty (job training, employability skills, educational attainment, and other related activities)

· Promote opportunities to assist public housing residents to become self-sufficient

· Promote opportunities for individuals to reduce their dependency on alcohol and drugs

· Promote fair housing opportunities

Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to, rehabilitation and preservation of buildings and improvements; acquisition and disposition of real property; acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or installation of public facilities and improvements; economic development activities; and activities by subrecipients to carry out neighborhood revitalization, energy conservation projects, and related projects.

Applications from organizations seeking to participate in the City of Clearwater Housing Pool for activities involving down payment assistance/gap financing, land acquisition, new construction, and rehabilitation of single- and multi-family housing will be accepted from eligible participants on a year-round basis while funds remain available.

For additional application information please contact:

· Dania Perez, Community Development Programs Administrator, at (727) 444-7159 or Dania.Perez@myclearwater.com

· Jessica Chueka, Community Development Coordinator, at (727) 444-7567 or Jessica.Chueka@myclearwater.com