Salem Five Year Consolidated Plan & Action Plan - Community Opportunities Group, Inc.

In 2005, the City of Salem hired COG to complete its Five Year Consolidated Plan and One-Year Action Plan, and in 2009 rehired us to do the same. A mature and densely developed city of about 41,500 people, Salem has a socio-economically diverse population with a range of community development needs.

For the plan, COG conducted an extensive public participation process that included neighborhood meetings, public hearings, and focus groups for residents, businesses, social service organizations, and civic groups. We worked specifically to engage residents of diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds by providing print materials in Spanish and translation services at public meetings.

In developing the 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan, COG considered market conditions, existing organizational and programmatic resources, and City funding sources. We designed the multi-year Strategic Plan to build on itself while working to grow the capacity of local organizations and improve coordination between these organizations and the City.

HUD has approved the plan and the City is currently implementing it.