As an Entitlement Community receiving annual grants on a formula basis from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Town of Normal is required to adopt a detailed Citizen Participation Plan containing policies and procedures for public involvement and stakeholder consultation in the Consolidated Plan process and the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.  

With the Town's current five-year Consolidated Plan (effective April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2020) nearing its expiration, the Town Council approved the 2018-2019 (Year 4) CDBG Annual Action Plan authorizing the allocation of funds to the McLean County Regional Planning Commission (MCRPC) for "the collaborative crafting of a Regional Consolidated Plan for the Bloomington and Normal CDBG programs for a 2020 submission to HUD."  An up-to-date and comprehensive Citizen Participation Plan's adoption is an essential part of the Consolidated Plan process.

With MCRPC's guidance and technical support, community development and planning staff from the Town and the City of Bloomington worked together to draft this plan which outlines:

• a cooperative, intergovernmental approach to addressing housing issues in the region
• the public participation process, including public hearings and public comment periods
• opportunities for involvement of affected persons, stakeholders, and other concerned citizens in the planning and reporting process
• transparency of the planning and reporting process and the assurance of access to records
• instructions to guide the public's submission of comments and the standards of the Town and City of Bloomington's responses

Note:  Although this Citizen Participation Plan sets guidelines and standard procedures for both the Town of Normal and City of Bloomington CDBG programs, each municipality continues to set goals, distribute funds, and operate as wholly independent entitlement communities. 

This plan was approved by the Town Council on December 3, 2018 and takes effect January 1, 2019.