The Boulder/Broomfield Regional HOME Consortium (“The Consortium”) represents all incorporated and unincorporated areas of Boulder and Broomfield Counties. The Consortium is comprised of 12 local governments. It was created in 2006 to request and distribute federal funds on a cooperative regional basis from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In 2010, the Consortium will receive over $3 million in various HUD grant program funds to be used for development, acquisition of, and investment in affordable housing and community development.

The mechanism for determining the need and allocation of these funds is known as a Consolidated Plan (“Con Plan”). The Con Plan incorporates a 5-year strategic plan for addressing the housing-related and community needs of the area.

The research process for the Con Plan was both quantitative and qualitative in nature. It involved collection and analysis of demographic, economic, housing and home loan data; an assessment of subsidized housing programs; and a detailed analysis of the local housing market. In addition, focus groups were conducted involving various stakeholders and service providers in the Consortium area. The Consortium encouraged the participation of Boulder and Broomfield County citizens through public hearings, focus group discussions, and a 30-day public comment period on a draft version of the plan prior to submittal to HUD.

Public hearings on this draft Con Plan were held in all three CDBG entitlement communities: Boulder, Broomfield, and Longmont. After these hearings and the 30-day comment period concluded, the Consortium addressed all comments on the draft before submitting a final version to HUD. HUD approved the final draft in spring 2010.