NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR TIERED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS Date of Posting: March 2, 2022 City of Seward, NE 537 Main St Seward, NE 68434 (402) 643-2928 On or after at March 15, 2022, the City of Seward will submit a request to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) for the release of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) funds under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended to undertake the City of Seward’s Downtown Revitalization plan. Tier 1 Broad Review Project/Program Title: Seward Downtown Revitalization Purpose: The City of Seward, Seward County, Nebraska, (Seward) is implementing a downtown revitalization (DTR) program to address slum and blight conditions within Seward’s Redevelopment Area 1. The purpose of this DTR program is to rehabilitate and revitalize buildings and structures located in Seward’s downtown district. Location: All projects must be located within the specified boundaries, an area generally defined as Seward’s “Designated Downtown District”. The specified boundaries can be found in the full Environmental Review Record (ERR). Project/Program Description: Funds will be available for reimbursement of eligible commercial rehabilitation activities within the project area, including façade improvements, repairs necessary for correction of code violations and public infrastructure improvements needed for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. Program guidelines will be established for the prioritization of funds. Examples of activities address the physical condition of the downtown buildings. Eligible projects will be reviewed and scored by Seward’s DTR Committee using a first-come first-serve system in accordance with established program priorities. The committee will recommend approval of projects to the City Council. No residents, businesses, or farms will be displaced as a result of the project activities. Project activities may include dust, noise, or temporary interruption of access to individual buildings during construction. All DTR program activities will be completed within 30 months. Tier 2 site specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the tier 1 broad review for each address under this program when addresses become known. Level of Environmental Review Citation: 24 CFR 58.35(a)(3)(iii) Tier 2 Site Specific Review: The site-specific reviews will cover the following laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review: Historic Preservation [36 CFR 800] Mitigation Measures/Conditions/Permits (if any): For each of the laws and authorities listed in the tier 2 site specific review, including descriptions of how issues will be addressed, and how mitigation measures, conditions or permits required will be implemented. Estimated Project Cost: The City of Seward received $435,000 to aid in the elimination of slum and blight conditions in the downtown area. $400,000 will go towards commercial rehabilitation of privately-owned properties including activities such as façade improvements, repairs necessary for correction of code violations, and any public infrastructure improvements needed for ADA compliance. $25,000 will be used for program administration. $10,000 will go towards construction managements. At least $100,000 in matching funds will be provided by local business owners. The activity/activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements per 24 CFR 58.35(a)(3)(iii). An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the Seward City Offices, located at 537 Main St, Seward, NE 68434 and may be examined or copied weekdays 8 A.M to 5 P.M. The ERR will be made available to the public for review either electronically or by U.S. mail. Please submit your request by U.S. mail to the address above or by email to derek.bargmann@cityofsewardne.gov. If the City of Seward chooses to send the ERR to the public for review via U.S. mail, the City of Seward will establish a timeframe for accepting comments with the person requesting the ERR. PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Seward, Downtown Revitalization Program 537 Main St, Seward, NE 68434. All comments received by March 12, 2022, will be considered by the City of Seward prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The City of Seward certifies to NDED that Joshua Eickmeier, Certifying Official, in his capacity as Mayor, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. NDED’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City of Seward to use HUD program funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS DED will accept objections to its release of fund and the City of Seward’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Seward; (b) the City of Seward has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by DED; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) at 301 Centennial Mall South, PO Box 94666, Lincoln, NE 68509-4666. Potential objectors should contact DED to verify the actual last day of the objection period. Joshua Eickmeier Mayor Certifying Official SCI — March 09, 2022 ZNEZ
