### Meeting Overview The City of Bellingham Community and Economic Development Committee met on April 27, 2026, to consider the 2026 Action Plan for housing and human services funding and review a comprehensive downtown vacancy study. The committee approved the Action Plan, which allocates federal and local funds to housing development, rental assistance, and supportive services, and received detailed findings on downtown commercial vacancy rates and strategies to address them. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Community Development Block Grant (CDBG):** Federal funding program that provides cities with resources for housing, community development, and services for low-income residents. **HOME Investment Partnership Program:** Federal program providing formula grants to states and localities for affordable housing activities, including tenant-based rental assistance and housing rehabilitation. **Area Median Income (AMI):** The midpoint of a region's income distribution, used as a benchmark for determining housing affordability and eligibility for housing programs. Projects typically serve households at 30-60% AMI. **Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LITC):** Federal program that provides tax credits to developers of affordable housing, with 9% credits being highly competitive and 4% credits being less competitive but more available. **Community Development Advisory Board (CADB):** Local board that reviews funding applications and provides recommendations on how to allocate federal and local housing funds. **Business and Occupation (B&O) Tax:** Washington state tax on gross receipts of businesses, which the city can reduce or exempt in certain areas to incentive development. **Multifamily Tax Exemption:** Local incentive that provides property tax exemptions for residential developments that include affordable housing units. **Stalled Assets:** Properties that have been vacant for over five years due to environmental issues, ownership complications, or other barriers to development. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jace Cotton | Committee Chair, City Council Member | | Hollie Huffman | Committee Member, City Council Member | | Edwin "Skip" Williams | Committee Member, City Council Member | | Dan Hammill | City Council Member | | Kim Lund | Mayor | | Samuel Lutz | Planning and Community Development Depa…