OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The final public hearing regarding the Community Services and Marion County Consortium’s Fiscal Year’s 2025-2026 annual action plan is scheduled for Aug. 5, 2025, at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners meeting at the McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium.
The public hearing is being held to gather feedback on the final draft of the annual action plan for fiscal year 2025-2026 detailing the annual funding amount. This will have no impact to the budget.
The grant funding for Marion County comes from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and these sources include the Community Block Development Grant, Home Investment Partnerships Program and the Emergency Solutions Grant.
A consortium of government entities, which Marion County leads, and the City of Ocala is part of, secures HOME funds. The City of Ocala as an entitlement city receives its own CBDG allocation.
Marion County is anticipating receiving approximately $21,173,037 for CDBG projects, $891,550 for HOME initiatives and $190,774 for Emergency Grant Solutions programs.
Marion County is a federal entitlement community under HUD, and as an entitlement community, the county is required to prepare an annual report.
The action plan is to implement any federal programs, that fund housing, community development and economic development within the community.
‘The CDBG’s primary objective is to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable environment and economic opportunities primarily for people of low- and moderate-income levels.
The HOME program provides federal funds for the development and rehabilitation of affordable rentals and ownership housing for the homeless.
The ESG program supports outreach to and shelters for homeless individuals and families.
Marion County receives CBDG and ESG funds directly from HUD as a result of being an entitlement county, and by being an entitlement county it allows them to administer funds directly from HUD.
The county administers HOME funds as a HOME participating jurisdiction on behalf of the Marion County Consortium.