Nov 22 1994

The Honorable Bob Goodlatte
Member, U.S. House of Representatives
2 South Main Street
Suite A, First Floor
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801

Dear Congressman Goodlatte:

     This is in response to the request by your constituent,
Mr. George Bergdoll, for information on the availability of
Federal funds to assist in the financing of renovations necessary
to bring a facility into compliance with laws relating to
accessibility for disabled individuals.

     Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, awarded to
individual communities by the Department of Housing and Urban
Development, can be used for the removal of architectural
barriers. Activities eligible for assistance include special
projects directed to the removal of barriers that restrict the
mobility of and accessibility of elderly persons and those with
disabilities. Please advise Mr. Bergdoll that each community
establishes its own priorities for the use of CDBG funds. Since
the funds can be used for a variety of priority projects, it is
important that Mr. Bergdoll work with his community to assure
that one of its priorities will be the use of some of these funds
for barrier removal.

     Businesses are also entitled to certain tax benefits to help
pay for the cost of compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). As amended in 1990, the Internal Revenue
Code allows a deduction of up to $15,000 per year for expenses
associated with the removal of qualified architectural and
transportation barriers.

     The 1990 amendment also permits eligible small businesses to
receive a tax credit for certain costs of compliance with the
ADA. An eligible small business is one whose gross receipts do
not exceed $1,000,000 or whose workforce does not consist of more
than 30 full-time workers. Qualifying businesses may claim a
credit of up to 50 percent of eligible access expenditures that

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exceed $250 but do not exceed $10,250. Examples of eligible
access expenditures include the necessary and reasonable costs of
removing architectural, physical communications, and
transportation barriers; providing readers, interpreters, and
other auxiliary aids; and acquiring or modifying equipment or
devices.

     The Department of Justice has established a free telephone
information service that provides technical assistance on title
III of the ADA. The number is 800-514-0301 (voice) or 800 (514-
9383 (TDD). The hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through
Friday except for Thursday, with hours of 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

     I hope this information is useful to you in responding to
your constituent.
                                   Sincerely,


                                Deval L. Patrick
                            Assistant Attorney General
                              Civil Rights Division

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                                   Memorandum
To: File

From: Phoebe Orebaugh, District Representative

Date: September 14, 1994

Re: Funds for making buildings handicapped accessible.

Mr. George Bergdoll is the Development Manager of the Massanetta
Springs Conference Center, a private nonprofit organization near
Harrisonburg, Virginia. He is inquiring as to whether there are any
funds available from the federal government to assist in the
financing of the renovations necessary in order to bring his
facility into compliance with laws relating to accessibility for
the handicapped.

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