The Town of Esto is considering applying to the Florida Department of Commerce for one or more Small Cities Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for the FFY 2023 and 2024 application cycle. Each grant is expected to not exceed $2,000,000. CDBG funds may be used for one of the following purposes: 1. To benefit low and moderate income persons; 2. To aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight; or 3. To meet other community development needs of recent origin having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community and where other financial resources are not available to meet such needs. The categories of activities for which these funds may be used are in the areas of housing, neighborhood revitalization, commercial revitalization, or economic development and include such improvement activities as acquisition of real property, loans to private-for-profit business, purchase of machinery and equipment, construction of infrastructure, planning/design, rehabilitation of houses and commercial buildings, and energy conservation.
In developing an application for submission to Florida Department of Commerce, the Town of Esto must plan to minimize displacement of persons as a result of planned CDBG activities. In addition, the town is required to develop a plan to assist displaced persons. A public hearing to receive citizen views concerning the community’s economic and community development needs will be held on April 3, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. (CST), or as soon thereafter as may be heard, at the Town of Esto Town Hall located at 3312 2nd Avenue South Esto, FL 32425. Additional information regarding the range of activities that may be undertaken with funding from the CDBG grant program will be provided at the public hearing. Additional information may also be obtained prior to the Public Hearing by contacting Ben Tew, Town Clerk at 850-263-6521. Also, comments or questions (and requests for additional information) may be submitted to Mr. Tew by email at [email protected], or by postal service at 3312 2nd Avenue South Esto, FL 32425.
The public hearing will be conducted in a handicapped accessible location. Any handicapped person requiring an interpreter for the hearing impaired or the visually impaired or requiring any other special accommodation should contact the city at the phone number listed above at least five calendar days prior to the meeting so that arrangements can be made for an interpreter or other special accommodation. Any non-English speaking person wishing to attend the public hearing should contact the city at the phone number listed above so that arrangements for a language interpreter can be made. To access a Telecommunication Device for Deaf Persons (TDD) please call (1-800-877-8339).
A FAIR HOUSING/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/HANDICAP ACCESS JURISDICTION
