(MIAMI, FL) – The City of Miami Department of Community Development will be holding Pre-Proposal Workshops for applicants seeking Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 (34th Year), in the categories of Public Service/Economic Development/Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG homeless) activities and Micro-Enterprise Assistance activities in Districts 2 and 5. Please note that the contracts for Public Service/Economic Development/ESG activities may be awarded for up to two years.

The Department will also be holding one Pre-Proposal Workshop for applicants seeking Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 (34th Year). Please note that the contracts for HOPWA activities may be awarded for up to two years. All interested applicants are encouraged to attend the workshops for assistance with the proposal process. The pre-proposal workshops will be held as follows (based on category):

Public Service/Economic Development/ESG Activities – RFP being issued on Thurs., Feb. 14, 2008:
Friday, February 22, 2008, 9:30 a.m.-12 noon, Lummus Park, 404 NW 3rd Street 
Friday, February 29, 2008, 1:30-4 p.m., Manuel Artime Community Center, 970 SW 1 st Street, Suite 407

Micro-Enterprise (Districts 2 & 5) – RFP being issued on Thurs., Feb. 14, 2008:
Tuesday, February 19, 2008, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Frankie B. Rolle Center, 3750 South Dixie Highway, Room 115   
Wednesday, February 20, 2008, 5:30-7:00 p.m., Charles Hadley Park - Black Box Theater, 1300 NW 50 St. 

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) – RFP being issued on Mon., Feb. 25, 2008:
Thursday, March 6, 2008, 1:30-4 p.m., Charles Hadley Park - Black Box Theater,  1300 NW 50th St. 

Proposals in the Public Service/Economic Development/ESG Activities and Micro-Enterprise categories are due on Friday, March 14, 2008, 3 p.m., at the City Clerk’s office at Miami City Hall, located at 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, FL 33133. No applications will be accepted after 3 p.m. on that date. Proposals in the HOPWA categories are due on Friday, March 28, 2008, 3 p.m. at the City Clerk’s office at Miami City Hall, located at 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, FL 33133. No applications will be accepted after 3 p.m. on that date. For questions concerning Public Service/Economic Development/ESG and Micro-Enterprise RFPs, please e-mail Lillian Blondet at lblondet@miamigov.com. For questions concerning HOPWA RFPs, please contact Ray Louis rlouis@miamigov.com. 

The Department of Community Development solicits proposals from non-profit agencies and for-profit entities seeking to implement projects and/or services fundable with federal dollars. These funds are intended to further qualify housing opportunities, create quality of life enhancements, increase access to quality facilities and services, and stimulate economic revitalization that will aid low-income persons in the City of Miami. All Requests for Proposals (RFP) will be posted on their respective issuance date as noted above and will be available for downloading on the Department’s web site at www.miamigov.com/communitydevelopment. Interested persons can also pick up a copy of any of the RFPs at the Department of Community Development, 444 SW 2nd Ave., 2nd Floor, Miami, FL 33130. All the pre-proposal workshop sites are accessible to the handicapped. Requests for special accommodations may be directed to the Department of Community Development at 305-416-2080 no less than three (3) business days prior to the event date.