El Paso County communities compete for federal disaster money

Three Colorado Springs-area communities are among 40 nationwide competing for $1 billion in disaster funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs and Black Forest are among the competitors.

To qualify, an area must have experienced a major disaster declared as such by President Barack Obama between 2011 and 2013. The money is for physical disaster recovery and long-term community recovery.

Eligible communities are required to develop disaster recovery plans and submit requests for specific projects by Oct. 27.

HUD will announce community winners in early 2016.

Communities must propose cutting-edge projects that address unmet needs from past disasters and vulnerabilities that could endanger people during future disasters.

The regional project in southern Colorado suggests a forest restoration program in Black Forest, a new city hall out of the flood plain in Manitou Springs and restoring the historic current city hall, and a disaster recovery center in Colorado Springs.

A city spokesperson said the center is only in the discussion stage.

Estimated costs are $2.7 million in Black Forest and $24 million in Manitou Springs.

The public may submit public comments through Oct. 20 by sending an email to: gov_coloradorecoveryoffice@state.co.us.

You also may visit the website https://sites.google.com/a/state.co.us/coloradounited/ndrc-application