NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

Date of Notice: April 9, 2026
City of Philadelphia, Division of Housing and Community Development
1234 Market Street, 17^th Floor’ Philadelphia, PA  19107
215-686-9760

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Philadelphia’s Division of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

 On or about Apri 29, 2026, the City of Philadelphia will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended; and the City of Philadelphia will authorize the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) to submit to HUD a request for release of funds under Section 9 funds under the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, to undertake the following project: New Africa Center.

Project Title: ER-25-024; New Africa Center
Purpose:  The applicant requests funding to construct a 5-story building, with a cultural center on the ground floor, and 33 affordable units above. Two of the four lots are currently vacant, while the other two have 3-story mixed use attached buildings that are vacant and will be demolished
Location: 4237, 4239, 4241, 4243 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Estimated Cost: The total development cost is $10,643,383

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

 The City of Philadelphia has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment.  Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required.   The full legal notice can be accessed

POSTING INFORMATION

This Notice will be posted at the Haverford Library Branch located at 5543 Haverford Avenue; Philadelphia, PA 19139 and on this website. Download or view the full FONSI and ERR

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to DHCD.  All comments received by April 28, 2026, will be considered by the DHCD prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.  Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

 The City of Philadelphia certifies to HUD that Jessie Lawrence, in his capacity as Director of the Department of Planning and Development/Division of Housing and Community Development consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

 HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City’s certification for a period of 15 days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later). Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58) and shall be addressed to the Philadelphia Office of Community Planning and Development at CPDRROFPHI@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

The Targeted Community Investment Grant (TCIG) application period, managed by the City’s Office of Public Safety Community Grants Division, is now open! Organizations in Philadelphia engaged in violence prevention or intervention work can apply for grants from $5,000 – $50,000. Funding is available across three tiers to align with organizational experience and program scope:

• Tier 1 ($5,000, $7,500, $10,000) supports new or first-time applicants and is designed for one-time summer programs, single events, or a series of one-time events occurring during the grant period;
• Tier 2 ($15,000, $20,000, $25,000) supports organizations with existing or recurring programming and is intended to help expand or sustain summer initiatives; and
• Tier 3 ($35,000, $40,000, $45,000, $50,000) is designed for established organizations with demonstrated capacity to implement larger-scale programming and achieve measurable community impact.

Eligible applicants include the following:

• Nonprofits
• Fiscally sponsored organizations
• LLCs
• S-Corps
• B-Corps

2026 programmatic updates are designed to improve accessibility for smaller and grassroots organizations, better align funding with organizational capacity, and provide a clear pathway for growth across all funding levels.

Additionally, this year’s funding cycle updates reflect feedback from partners and stakeholders to ensure a clear, aligned approach and consistent messaging across the application, review, and implementation process.

All applicants will be required to address Certificate of Insurance (COI) requirements as part of the contracting process. Additional guidance and support will be provided to help organizations navigate these requirements.

What is TCIG?

The Targeted Community Investment Grant program funds community-based violence prevention programs and activities that improve public safety, increase opportunities for self-development and care, and build a stronger sense of community throughout neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence.

TCIG grantees create trauma-informed approaches to gun violence, build resiliency in their communities, mediate conflicts, and promote social or economic empowerment. Examples of past programs include, but are not limited to:

• Resource fairs
• Outreach events
• Job training and career development
• Neighborhood and community beautification
• Education events and workshops
• Community engagement

How can I apply?

The TCIG application is currently open! The application period closes on May 8, 2026, at midnight.

Information Sessions will be held virtually to support applicants throughout the process. Multiple sessions will be offered on the following dates:

• • April 7, 2026, 12 NOON
  • April 9, 2026, 6 PM
  • April 14, 2026, 6 PM
  • April 23, 2026, 12 NOON
  • April 28, 2026, 6 PM
  • May 7, 2026, 12 NOON

To learn more about TCIG, you can register for an info session and apply online.

For more information on TCIG, email TCIG@phila.gov.

Our 911 operators are the FIRST first responders when there’s an emergency. The City of Philadelphia is hiring dispatchers for the Philadelphia Fire Department and the Philadelphia Police Department. The deadline to apply is April 19. Check out the job description and FAQ to learn how you can become one of Philly’s Bravest.