Community Development
What is the Community Development Block Grant Program?
The primary goal of CDBG is to develop and strengthen viable urban communities by providing decent housing and suitable living environments principally for low- and moderate-income persons and/or households.
CDBG-funded projects and services must meet one of the Programs’ National Objectives:
- Provide a benefit to low/moderate income persons.
- Eliminate or prevent slums and blight.
- Meet an urgent community need of recent origin that threatens the health or welfare of residents.
The following are considered eligible CDBG activities:
- Senior Services
- Handicapped Access
- Youth Services
- Health Services
- Sidewalk Improvements
- Waterline Improvements
- Street Improvements
- Sewer Improvements
- Drainage Improvements
- Senior Center
- Youth Centers
- Neighborhood Facilities
- Child Care Facilities
- Historic Preservation
- Parks & Recreation Facilities
- Health Facilities
- Parking Facilities
- Job Creation & Retention
- Business Improvements
- Acquisition
- Loans
- Housing Rehabilitation
- Affordable Housing
- Rental Assistance
- Down Payment Assistance
- Rental Rehabilitation
- Emergency Shelter
The following activities may Not be assisted with CDBG funds:
- Buildings (or portions thereof) utilized for the General Conduct of Government (unless the proposed activity is related to ADA compliance being the removal of material or architectural barriers that limit the accessibility of elderly persons or adults with severe disabilities (§570.208(a)(2(ii));
- General Government Expenses - required to carry out the regular responsibilities of general local government; and
- Political Activities - the use of CDBG funds to finance facilities or equipment for political purposes or to engage in other partisan political activities, such as candidates’ forums, voter transportation, or voter registration is not eligible.
The following activities will generally Not be assisted with CDBG funds:
- Purchase of Equipment - for example, construction, fixtures, motor vehicles, furnishings and other personal property not an integral structural fixture is generally ineligible;
- Operating and Maintenance Expenses – any expense associated with repairing, operating or maintaining public facilities, improvements and services in ineligible. Examples of ineligible operating and maintenance include: the maintenance and repair of publically owned streets (filling of pot holes in streets, repairing of cracks in sidewalks, replacement of expended street light bulbs), parks (the mowing of recreational areas), water and sewer facilities, neighborhood facilities, senior centers, centers for persons with disabilities;
- Payment of staff salaries, utility costs and similar expenses necessary for the operation of public works and facilities;
- New Housing Construction – the construction of new permanent residential structures or for any program to subsidize or assist such new construction is ineligible except:
- When carried out by an entity pursuant to §570.204(a)
- Income payments – any series of subsistence - type grant payments, such as Housing allowances, food, clothing or utilities.