Part V of our series on the City of Harrisburg's HUD program.

After an almost one year delay, non-profits and community groups have been notified that the City of Harrisburg's HUD program is back on track and 2011/2012 funds can now be released.

At the end of August, groups were notified via email that their contracts were now in place so they could begin to draw down on their HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. For those groups who had previously submitted invoices against their allocations, monies were distributed the week of September 17th. Several other groups have yet to attempt to obtain their grants since receiving the go ahead.

One group organizer who requested to remain unnamed said, "As relieved I am to have received notice from the City that we can begin to draw down on our funds, I'm hesitate to start the project in case there is a similar delay with the 2012 funds."

Recipients of 2012/2013 HUD CDBG grants are technically able to begin drawing down on their awards as of October 1, 2012.

by Tara Leo Auchey