Planner (Community and Economic Development)

SUMMARY Comprehensive Planning Division – Community and Economic Development Planner: Responsible for the administration of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program including preparation of federally required plans and reports, management of all projects with CDBG funding; management of the CDBG budget through IDIS, and coordination and oversight of grant subrecipients. Serves as a point of contact for the operation of businesses in the City of Bentonville, new and old.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  include the following. Reporting relationships, work assignments, and work schedules may be subject to change in order to meet City needs or operational requirements.  Attendance at work and the ability to get along with the public, supervisors, and co-workers are essential elements of this position.  Other duties may be assigned.                

• Ensures compliance with all regulations and requirements of the CDBG program with an approximate annual allocation of $35,000, which requires monitoring of the program, projects and sub-recipients with regard to all federal, state, and local regulations.
• Ensures that projects comply with the Fair Housing Act, environmental review, labor standards, displacement and relocations, acquisition, lead-based paint, nondiscrimination and equal opportunity.
• Coordinates the citizen participation process of the program.
• Coordinates a grant, award and monitoring program for sub-recipients.
• Manages all program financial elements, including internal control auditing.
• Provides training and one-on-one technical assistance to sub-recipients.
• Prepares and maintain required records and reports.
• Maintain Housing and Urban Development (HUD) IDIS accounting system and drawdown procedures.
• Maintain system to track grant funds and disbursements and drawdown requests.
• Serves as a point of contact to businesses wishing to do business within the City of Bentonville, existing and new.
• Implements the recommendations of the Affordable Housing Workgroup Final Report and all affordable housing programs in the City of Bentonville.
• Actively seeks and coordinates grant applications for programs aimed at delivering affordable housing.
• Discusses various community development program requirements and sources of funding available with department managers and staff.
• Confers with personnel affected by proposed programs to develop program goals and objectives, outline how funds are to be used, and explain procedures necessary to obtain funding.
• Submits proposals to officials for approval.
• Writes grant applications, according to format required, and submits applications to funding agency or foundation.
• Meets with representatives of funding sources to work out final details of proposal.
• Directs and coordinates evaluation and monitoring of grant funded programs, or writes specifications for evaluation or monitoring of programs by outside agency.
• Assists department managers and staff in writing periodic reports to comply with grant requirements.
• Maintains master files on grants. Monitors paperwork and budgets connected with grant funded programs.
• Prepares  three-to-five-year Consolidated Plans
• Prepares  annual Action Plans.
• Prepares  annual Consolidated Action Plan Evaluation Reports (CAPER).
• Prepares  Environmental Review Records.
• Serves on various civic committees as the City’s staff representative.
• Assists with special projects and assignments of the Comprehensive Planning Division, including staff support for various committees, code updates, and research-related activities.
• Prepare budgets associated with community development programs.
• Maintain effective public relations and to establish good working relationships with other employees.
• Research federal regulations associated with the administration of community development programs.
• Disseminate information regarding programs and services available through the CDGB, HOME, and other federal programs.
• Maintain administrative, fiscal, and general records and to prepare reports or respond to questions from files or records.
• Performs other duties as required.