CDBG Program

The annual CDBG appropriation is allocated between states and local jurisdictions identified as "non-entitlement" and "entitlement" communities, respectively. Entitlement communities are comprised of central cities of Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs); metropolitan cities with populations of at least 50,000; and qualified urban counties with a population of 200,000 or more (excluding the populations of entitlement cities). States distribute CDBG funds to non-entitlement localities not qualified as entitlement communities.

HUD determines the amount of each grant by using a formula that comprises several measures of community need, including, the extent of poverty, population, housing overcrowding, age of housing, and population growth-lag in relationship to other metropolitan areas.

Citizen Participation A grantee must develop and follow a detailed plan that provides for and encourages citizen participation. This integral process emphasizes participation by persons of low to moderate income, particularly residents of predominantly low-to-moderate-income neighborhoods, slum or blighted areas, and areas in which the grantee proposes to use CDBG funds. The plan must provide citizens with the following: reasonable and timely access to local meetings; an opportunity to review proposed activities and program performance; and timely, written answers to written complaints and grievances.  The plan must also identify how the needs of non-English speaking residents will be met in the case of public hearings where a significant number of non-English speaking residents can be reasonably expected to participate.

Eligible Activities Over a 1, 2, or 3-year period, as selected by the grantee, not less than 70 percent of CDBG funds must be used for activities that benefit low-to-moderate-income persons. In addition, each activity must meet one of the following national objectives for the program: benefit low-to-moderate-income persons, prevention or elimination of slums or blight, or address community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community for which other funding is not available.

Please contact the Program Manager, Susan Filiberto, for more information about the CDBG Program: