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2013 National CommunityDevelopment Week BuildsSupport For CDBG, HOMEFundingBy Eugene T. LoweCities, counties and states from acrossthe nation observed the 2013 NationalCommunity Development Week April1-6. All sponsored and held local eventsdesigned to showcase the accomplishmentsof the Community DevelopmentBlock Grant (CDBG) and HOME investmentPartnerships programs. CDBG hasmade outstanding contributions to localand state governments for the past 39years, while HOME has done the same for22 years. The theme of the 2013 NationalCommunity Development Week was“Changing Communities, Changing Lives.”National Community DevelopmentWeek was created 27 years ago whennational organizations, including theConference of Mayors, found that manymembers of Congress were not familiarwith the CDBG program and what theprogram meant to citizens and communities.As it has always been, the goal ofCD Week is to educate members of Congressand the community on CDBG andHOME regarding the impact of both programson the lives of low- and moderateincomecitizens.What is at stake is the funding levelof both programs. In FY2001, CDBG formulafunding stood at $4.406 billion. InFY2013, the formula funding level is $3.0billon. For HOME, as recent as FY2010,the funding level was $1.825 billion. InFY2013, the funding level is $950 million.Below is a sampling of the 2013 CDBGand HOME celebration events fromaround the country.Portland (OR) – A walk was heldalong Congress Street to show the use ofCDBG funds, including façade improvementsfor local businesses.Lowell (MA) – Throughout the week,the city hosted tours and open houses ofprojects supported by CDBG and HOME.Lowell had its celebration one week later,April 9-13 (a common practice by manylocalities is to hold CD Week at the mostconvenient time for all participants).Jacksonville (FL) – Events wereheld to showcase the following accomplishments:a computer literacy and trainingprogram to assist 250 public housingand Section 8 participants; social,cultural, educational, recreational andinformational activities for 12,500 seniorsto remain independent; activities for 125low and moderate income, at-risk youth;literacy skills to 75 homeless and otheradults who are currently without a highschool diploma.Madison (WI) – the city highlightedits accomplishments for CDBG and HOMEover several years: 484 lower incomehouseholds have been able to purchasetheir first home; over 1,000 low incomehouseholds have benefited from the creationor improvement of affordable housingunits; over 300 individuals for lowerincome households have obtained jobs;and, over 410,000 lower income individualshave benefited from a service orprogram at a neighborhood center.New Bedford (MA) – Mayor JonMitchell presented a proclamation designatingNational CD Week. Team Builders,Inc., a CDBG funded youth program madea presentation. The Homeless ProviderNetwork presented the annual Sister RoseAward to a deserving individual in recognitionof their achievement and dedicationto serving the homeless community.Newton (MA) – National CommunityDevelopment Week Film Screening &Awards Ceremony (featuring a documentaryexploring the impact of communitydevelopment programs on the lives ofNewton residents).MAYORS BUSINESSCOUNCILMember ProfileAmerican WaterFounded in 1886, American Water is thelargest publicly traded U.S. water andwastewater services provider. AmericanWater has both regulated state subsidiariesand market-based businesses, servingapproximately 14 million people in morethan 30 states and parts of Canada.American Water has a successful trackrecord of public-private partnerships andoffers municipalities, the military and otherentities a range of solutions to help meetwater and waste water system challenges.With its dedication to customer serviceand water quality, the company scoresgreater than 99.9 percent compliance forEPA drinking water standards and consistentlydelivers high customer satisfactionscores. More information can be found atwww.amwater.com.American Water’s homeowner servicessubsidiary, American Water Resources,LLC. (AWR) provides Water Line, SewerLine and In-Home Plumbing Emergencyprotection for homeowners in 34 states.Selected by New York City as the officialservice line protection provider forhomeowners in its five boroughs, AWRalso forms partnerships with municipalities,offering cities an income opportunitywhile also providing a valuable customerservice to homeowners. The programsare administered by AWR and providecustomers with comprehensive protectionfor repairs not covered by homeowners’insurance or their water or sewer serviceprovider. More information can be foundat www.awrusa.com.* In CA (DBA as American Water ResourcesInsurance Services) and in VA, this programis insurance, which is provided byVirginia Surety Company, Inc.For more Business Council profiles visitthe Conference of Mayors website atusmayors.org/buscouncilusmayors.orgApril 29, 2013 U.S. MAYOR Page 15