Butler County would receive more money and time to complete federally funded projects benefiting lower income residents if county commissioners succeed in securing “urban county” status from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The commissioners Wednesday, Aug. 26, voted to ratify ongoing efforts to establish urban county designation with HUD.

With a population now over 200,000, the county meets the qualification to become an urban county and receive Community Development Block Grant funds directly from HUD instead of applying through the state, as it does now.

If HUD approves the county application, which is due Sept. 15, the county will receive about $500,000 in CDBG funding in addition to the $900,000 the county currently receives.

Another benefit would be having five more years to complete CDBG-funded projects. CDBG projects now have to be completed in about three years, but the direct federal entitlement provides eight years to complete projects, said Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman.

The changes would impact block grant funding from 2027 through 2029.

“I think it would definitely give us more money, but more time, which is what we need to do these water/sewage projects and make a bigger impact for those communities,” said Wendy Leslie, county CDBG administrator.

She said the county was notified about the opportunity Aug. 11 by email and has been scrambling to contact and meet with all 57 municipalities so they can decided to opt in or out of the program by Sept. 8.

Municipalities that opt in can apply to the county for funding for eligible block grant projects, but municipalities that opt out are not eligible for county CDBG money, Leslie said.

Solicitor Julie Graham said she is preparing a draft urban county cooperation agreement that she plans to forward to the municipalities by Friday. Municipalities must approve the agreement in a public meeting, she said.

CDBG funds are restricted to projects that benefit residents with low to moderate income.

The urban county designation would benefit the county housing and redevelopment authority, which would receive an annual allocation to operate the HOME program, which is used for buying and rehabilitating homes for rent or ownership.