Meeting Type: BCC Regular Meeting
Meeting Date: 8/18/2026
Item Status: New
From: Tara Hazelbaker, Director of Finance
Submitted by: Katrina Taylor, Grants and Compliance Manager
______________________________________________________________________
ITEM TITLE
Title
Resolution #2026-129 - Approving Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP) Policies and Procedures
End
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution #2026-129 which approves the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP) Policies and Procedures.
End
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Background: Through the County's approved Local Recovery Plan (LRP), the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) allocated $19.1 million in CDBG-DR Homeownership Assistance Program funds to provide direct support to eligible residents and expand homeownership opportunities. The program covers a range of allowable costs, including down payment assistance of up to 20 percent of the property's purchase price, the initial homeowner warranty premium, and reasonable closing costs. These costs may include legal and closing fees, title searches, conveyance documents, notary services, surveys, recording fees, lender fees, buyer realtor fees up to 3 percent of the purchase price, appraisals, and inspections. Additional eligible expenses include legal services throughout the homebuying process, inspection services, and homebuyer education class costs.
The program is supported by a waiver of 42 USC § 5305(a)(24)(A) and (D) found in the Federal Register Notices related to Hurricanes Sally and Zeta, allowing assistance to qualified households earning up to 120 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), with priority given to applicants at or below 80 percent AMI. To qualify, participants must have been residents of Baldwin County in 2020 and directly or indirectly impacted by the storms associated with DR-4563 and DR-4573.
The HAP Policies and Procedures document establishes the guidelines for administering the Homeownership Assistance Program and must be followed by all County employees, individuals, and organizations acting on behalf of Baldwin County in the administration of HAP.
Previous Commission action/date:
April 21, 2026 - Adopted Resolution #2026-060 which approved the Baldwin County Commission's Required Activities to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing, and repeals Resolution #2014-035 adopted January 21, 2014.
January 6, 2026 - Approved the submittal of the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Homeownership Assistance Program (HAP) Activity Profile Form, by staff to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) CDBG-DR grant portal; and authorized the Chairman to sign any documents related to this Activity Profile Form.
November 6, 2025 - Awarded the Contract to MB3 Inc. d/b/a Civix in the amount of $2,427,488.00 for the Implementation Phase of the General Grant and Management, Project Management, and Capacity Building for CDBG-DR Subaward and authorize the Chairman to execute the Contract contingent upon County Attorney approval. (The contract is effective on the date of full execution.)
September 16, 2025 - Approved the submittal of CDBG-DR CPIP Activity Profile Form for the CR 65 Extension Project from CR 28 to CR 32, by staff to ADECA CDBG-DR grant portal; and authorized the Chairman to sign any documents related to this Activity Profile Form.
August 19, 2025 - Approved the formal administrative closeout of the CDBG-DR Planning Phase; and approved the Budget Director to remove the remaining available balance of $332,989.24 from the CDBG-DR Planning Phase ledger. These funds were not reimbursed and are not eligible for retention or reallocation.
July 1, 2025 - Approved Amendment No. 2 to Subrecipient Agreement Number DR-21-001 between the BCC and the State of Alabama, ADECA, addressing recovery from Hurricanes Sally and Zeta, including unmet housing, infrastructure, economic development, mitigation, and other eligible unmet needs, as described in the BCC's approved LRP. Amendment No. 2 to Baldwin County's CDBG-DR Subrecipient Agreement with ADECA establishes the implementation budget allocations of $100,000.00 for Administration, $19,169,010.00 for Housing Recovery Activities, and $24,092,676.00 for Non-Housing Recovery Activities. The amendment also extends the period of performance through October 31, 2028.
May 6, 2025 - Approved the Third Amendment to Contract for Professional Services with MB3 Inc. d/b/a Civix for the Planning Phase of the General Grant and Management, Project Management, and Capacity Building for the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Subaward. The following clauses have been added to Section 6.5 of the agreement and included in Attachment A:
a) Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964
b) Section 109, Housing & Community Development Act of 1974a
c) Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973
d) Age Discrimination Act of 1975
e) Equal Employment Opportunity
f) Section 3 Compliance
g) Section 3 Plan
h) Section 402 of the Vietnam Veterans Act
i) Alabama Beason-Hammon Act
j) Conflict of Interest
k) Audits, Records keeping and retention
The term and cost of the contract remain unaffected by this Amendment.
February 18, 2025 - Approved the Second Amendment to the Contract for Professional Services with MB3 Inc. d/b/a Civix in the amount of $50,000.00 for the Planning Phase of the General Grant and Management, Project Management, and Capacity Building for the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Subaward. The term of such contract extension is effective on March 1, 2025, through May 31, 2025.
November 5, 2024 - Approved the First Amendment to the Contract for Professional Services with MB3 Inc. d/b/a Civix in the amount of $211,345.00 for the Planning Phase of the General Grant and Management, Project Management, and Capacity Building for the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Subaward.
September 17, 2024 - Adopted Resolution #2024-168 of the Baldwin County Commission approving the Baldwin County Commission Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Affirmative Action Local Recovery Plan (LRP) Program; and approved Amendment No. 1 to Subrecipient Agreement Number DR-21-001 between the Baldwin County Commission and the State of Alabama, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), addressing recovery from Hurricanes Sally and Zeta, including unmet housing, infrastructure, economic development, mitigation, and other eligible unmet needs, as described in the Baldwin County Commission's approved Local Recovery Plan (LRP).
September 3, 2024 - Adopted Resolution #2024-155 of the Baldwin County Commission approving the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Local Recovery Plan (LRP) for DR-4563 and DR-4573.
August 20, 2024 - Adopted Resolution #2024-150 of the Baldwin County Commission approving the Baldwin County Commission Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Language Access Plan for Limited English Proficiency Persons.
August 6, 2024 - Conducted a Public Hearing regarding the adoption of the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Citizen Participation Plan (CPP); and following Public Hearing adopted Resolution #2024-147 of the Baldwin County Commission approving the CDBG-DR CPP.
March 5, 2024 - Awarded the Contract to MB3 Inc. d/b/a Civix in the amount of $370,081.00 for the Planning Phase of the General Grant and Management, Project Management, and Capacity Building for the CDBG-DR Subaward and authorized the Chairman to execute the Contract.
December 19, 2023 - Accepted the CDBG-DR sub-award from ADECA in the amount of $1,000,000 for the development of a LRP to identify local unmet needs resulting from Hurricanes Sally and Zeta in 2020 through outreach and coordination with impacted stakeholders; and approved the Subrecipient Agreement No. DR-21-001, with ADECA; and authorized the Chairman to execute the agreement and any related documents.
November 7, 2023 - Approved the Request for Proposals (RFP) for General Grant Coordination and Management, Project Management, and Capacity Building for the CDBG-DR Subaward and authorized the Purchasing Director to advertise the RFP; and authorized the Chairman/Purchasing Division Commissioner for the BCC to approve any necessary addendums or clarifications if required after the RFP is advertised.
November 16, 2022 - Authorized staff to proceed with preparing a Request for Proposals (RFP) document for the development of the CDBG-DR Local Recovery Plan for Baldwin County.
October 4, 2022 - Approved and authorized the Chairman to execute a letter to ADECA providing comments in response to the CDBG-DR Draft Action Plan.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Total cost of recommendation: N/A
Budget line item(s) to be used: N/A
If this is not a budgeted expenditure, does the recommendation create a need for funding? N/A
LEGAL IMPACT
Is legal review necessary for this staff recommendation and related documents?
Yes
Reviewed/approved by: Pending review and approval by County Attorney. (KDT)
Additional comments: N/A
ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS
Is advertising required for this recommendation? N/A
If the proof of publication affidavit is not attached, list the reason: N/A
FOLLOW UP IMPLEMENTATION
For time-sensitive follow up, select deadline date for follow up: N/A
Individual(s) responsible for follow up: Commission Administration
Action required (list contact persons/addresses if documents are to be mailed or emailed): Admin - Upload Resolution and copy internal parties via email.
cc: Roger Rendleman
Tara Hazelbaker
Katrina Taylor
Shelby Middleton
Alivia Wade
Taylor Bufkin
Additional instructions/notes: N/A