City Council discussed project proposals that include applications for Community Development Block Grant funding. The CDBG, a program supervised by the Department of Community and Economic Development, was initially created under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. As a grant awarded to Bethlehem by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), non-profits can receive up to 7.5% of the Community Development Block Grant's fiscal budget, according to the program's 2014 application. On average, the program has been awarded an estimated 1.7 million dollars annually by HUD. All proposal applications were required to be submitted to Bethlehem's Department of Community and Economic Development by August 23, 2013.

While Council heard proposals for the program, the application outlines several local priorities and other concerns to be investigated during the approval process. Foremost, council sought to outline whether any of the proposed projects will provide adverse environmental impact to the local community. More importantly, the program application for fiscal year 2014 states that all nonprofits granted funding are required to use that funding within two years, or the grant must be returned to the City of Bethlehem.

In addition to local community impact, council is required to identify that all projects awarded the grant act in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's national goals. As a result of a citizen complaint in 2009, the Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development conducted an audit which certified that the city has consistently and appropriately administered CDBGs in accordance with HUD requirements.

In other business, city officials have approved the construction of a 4.5 million square foot warehouse at 2785 Commerce Center Boulevard. The warehouse, which will be built on land previously owned by Bethlehem Steel Corp., will house Wal-Mart beginning in 2014. The new space is projected to employ 350 workers year-round with an estimated 800 or more workers during the holidays. The space, leased by Liberty Property Trust, will be incorporated into the company's online shipping distribution line to compete with rival companies such as Amazon. Amazon, which recently announced plans to hire 70,000 workers in anticipation of the holidays, has launched similar sites across Pennsylvania, Delaware and 10 other states as well.

The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at City Hall.