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Community Development Block Grants/Entitlement Grants
The Department of Housing and Urban Development's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. HUD fulfills this mission through high ethical standards, management and accountability, and by forming partnerships with community organizations.
Relevant Nonprofit Program Categories
Program Accomplishments
There are approximately 1,150 units of local government eligible to receive entitlement grants during fiscal year 2008.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Recipients may undertake a wide range of activities directed toward neighborhood revitalization, economic development, and provision of improved community facilities and services.
Entitlement communities develop their own programs and funding priorities as long as programs/activities conform to the statutory standards and program regulations.
Some of the specific activities that can be carried out with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds include acquisition of real property; relocation; clearance and demolition; rehabilitation of residential and nonresidential structures; provision of public facilities and improvements, such as water and sewer facilities (which require reviews by the State single point of contact or a Regional Planning Agency in accordance with Executive Order 12372), streets, and neighborhood centers.
In addition, CDBG funds may be used to pay for public services within certain limits.
Recipients may contract with other local agencies or nonprofit organizations to carry out part or all of their programs.
Community-based development organizations may carry out neighborhood revitalization, community economic development or energy conservation projects to further achieve the national objectives of the CDBG program.
Recipients may provide assistance to microenterprises or other for-profit entities when the recipient determines that the provision of such assistance is appropriate to carry out an economic development project.
All eligible activities must either benefit low- and moderate-income persons, aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight, or meet other community development needs having a particular urgency that the grantee is unable to finance on its own.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Cities in Metropolitan Areas designated by OMB as a central city of the Metropolitan Area; other cities over 50,000 in Metropolitan Areas; and qualified urban counties of at least 200,000 (excluding the population in entitlement cities located within the boundaries of such counties) are eligible to receive CDBG entitlement grants determined by a statutory formula.
Beneficiary Eligibility
The principal beneficiaries of CDBG funds are low- and moderate-income persons (generally defined as a member of a family having an income equal to or less than the Section 8 low income limit established by HUD). The grantee must certify that at least 70 percent of the grant funds received during a 1, 2, or 3-year period, that it designates, are expended for activities that will principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
A grantee is required to prepare a consolidated plan in accordance with the requirements of Part 91; have and follow a detailed citizen participation plan; provide information to citizens on the amount of CDBG funds available and the range of community development and housing activities that may be undertaken; hold public hearings; publish a proposed action plan which includes a description of activities in sufficient detail, including location, to afford affected citizens an opportunity to submit views and comments prior to the preparation of a final action plan; prepare and submit a final action plan to HUD.
This program is covered under E.O.
12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." Recipients should consult the office or the official designated as the single point of contact in its respective State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed when funds are used for the planning or the construction (reconstruction or rehabilitation) of water or sewer facilities.
Application Procedures
Submit a Consolidated Plan, an annual action plan, SF Form 424, and certifications to HUD. The Consolidated Plan and annual action plan cover four major formula-distribution HUD Community development programs, including CDBG. The annual action plan must include the local community development objectives and show the proposed use of the funds. If the grantee makes a complete submission within the established deadlines, the Department will make a grant award unless a determination is made by HUD that the grantee's performance is unsatisfactory. HUD will approve the submission generally within 45 days of receipt of the annual action plan and required certifications unless a determination has been made that the grantee has failed to carry out its CDBG program in a timely manner or has failed to conform to the requirements of the statute or other applicable laws. Under such circumstances, HUD may take appropriate actions, including reductions in the amount of the final grant.
Award Procedures
None.
Deadlines
For formula grants, action plans associated with the Consolidated Plan must be submitted based on the grantee's program year, but no earlier than November 15 or no later than August 16 of the fiscal year for which the funds are allocated.
Authorization
Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Title I, as amended, Public Law 93-383.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Generally within 45 days.
Appeals
Administrative appeals process followed if entitlement grant funds are withheld or reduced, or repayment proposed for non- compliance or non-performance.
Renewals
Every 3 to 5 years, localities submit a Consolidated Plan. Each year localities submit an annual action plan and certifications.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Entitlements are based on a dual formula under Section 106 of the Act using statistical factors. Each metropolitan city and urban county is entitled to receive an amount equaling the greater of the amounts calculated under two formulas. The factors involved in the first formula are population, extent of poverty and extent of overcrowded housing, weighted 0.25, 0.50, and 0.25, respectively. The factors involved in the second formula are population growth lag, poverty, and age of housing, weighted 0.20, 0.30, and 0.50, respectively. The statistical factors used for fund allocation are (1) most current population estimates from the Bureau of Census 90 days before the end of the fiscal year; (2) number of persons with incomes below the poverty level from the source 2000 Census; (3) number of housing units with 1.01 or more persons per room from the source 2000 Census; (4) age of housing; number of year-round housing units built in 1939 or earlier from the source 2000 Census; (5) growth lag; the lag in population growth as computed from population in 1960 to current population from the source 1960 Census and P25, Census Report. Statistical factors used for eligibility are (1) metropolitan city: principal city of a Metropolitan Area (MA) or city within MA with 50,000 population from the source Census and OMB; (2) urban county: generally, counties in MA having a net population of 200,000 or more, excluding entitlement cities located therein, from the source Census and OMB. Questions concerning the formula should be addressed to the Systems Development and Evaluation Division, Community Planning and Development, 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410. Telephone: (202) 708-0790.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Assistance is for an annual program of activities, but activities generally may be continued beyond one year until completed.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
An annual performance report is required on the use of funds to meet program requirements including the grantee's objectives and the national objectives of the program.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of State and Local Governments and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend $500,000 or more in Federal awards in a year shall generally have a single audit conducted for that year. (The auditee may elect to have a program-specific audit conducted under certain limited circumstances.)
Records
The applicant must maintain records with regard to eligibility, national objectives, financial management, citizen participation, relocation, other resources, acquisition, housing assistance to units and households, equal opportunity, environmental impact, labor standards and other requirements set forth in regulations. Records shall be retained for four years after submission of the report in which the activity is reported as completed, except as otherwise prescribed in the published regulations.
Financial Information
Account Identification
86-0162-0-1-451.
Obigations
FY 07 $2,592,790,000; FY 08 est $2,510,501,000; FY 09 est $1,909,184,000. (NOTE: Amounts reported reflect allocation of new budget authority rather than obligation amounts.)
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Determined by formula.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Administrative Regulations for Community Development Block Grants, 24 CFR 570.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Contact appropriate HUD Field Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Entitlement Communities Division, Office of Block Grant Assistance, Community Planning and Development, 451 7th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20410. Telephone: (202) 708-1577. Use the same number for FTS.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
None.
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