The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program provides federal funding for projects to improve the quality of life for people with low or moderate incomes, revitalize urban centers, and address the urgent health and safety needs of low-income communities. The CDBG program has been continuously administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) since 1974, making it one of HUD's longest-running community improvement and housing affordability programs.
What is the Purpose of CDBG Funding?
The primary objective of this program is to help develop viable urban communities through the provision of decent housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunity, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.
A minimum of seventy percent (70%) of CDBG funds, not including administrative costs, must support activities that benefit lower income persons
Key takeaways:
- Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs) provide federal funding for projects that aim to improve the quality of life for people with low or moderate incomes.
- CDBG projects must align with national goals to qualify for funding, such as benefiting low- and moderate-income people or helping prevent urban blight and eliminating slums.
- Activities that are eligible for project funds for low- and moderate-income people include those that provide them with housing and those that benefit an area, such as water and sewer systems, among others.
One example of the successful use of CDBG funds is in the city of Joplin, Mo., which used the money to create a 40,000-square-foot early childhood education center after a devastating tornado in 2011.
How Can My Organization Access Funding?
If you would like to propose a project, please use the contact info on this page to email us or give us a call. The first step in the process is a meeting with CSD staff to determine if this funding source is a good fit for your project. If so, a formal application process follows. If this process is successful and funding is available, your project would then included in the next year's Action Plan or, if appropriate, amended into the current year Action Plan via a "substantial amendment."