Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. Beginning in 1974, the CDBG program is one of the longest continuously-run programs at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

HUD’s National Objectives

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development national objectives for CDBG programs are to:

• Benefit low- and moderate-income persons
• Prevent or eliminate slums or blight
• 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

Common Fund Uses

HUD provides CDBG to both larger cities or consortiums (called entitlements) and to state governments to grant the formula dollars to smaller cities within that state. Some of the common uses of CDBG funds include:

• Acquisition of property for public purposes
• Construction or reconstruction of streets
• Water and sewer facilities
• Neighborhood centers, recreation facilities, and other public works
• Demolition
• Rehabilitation of public and private buildings
• Public services
• Planning activities
• Assistance to nonprofit entities for community development activities
• Assistance to private, for-profit entities to carry out economic development activities (including Assistance to micro-enterprises)

Eligibility to Apply for the City of Xenia’s CDBG Formula

Any governmental agency or non-profit organization is eligible to apply for a Community Development Block Grant based on the proposed eligibility and availability of funds for the specific entitlement year(s). In past years, the City of Xenia has received an annual allocation of approximately $75,000 to $88,000. Starting in 2017, the City will be changed to a bi-annual (two year) funding cycle. The next CDBG Formula Allocation for which the City of Xenia will be eligible to apply is the 2018 funding cycle. However the funding will be for approximately $150,000 and will be spent over a two-year funding cycle rather than a one year funding cycle. This change is to reflect decreasing funding for CDBG, and to further encourage communities to apply for competitive funding grants such as Neighborhood Revitalization Grants (NRG), Downtown Revitalization Grants (DRG), Critical Infrastructure Grants (CIG), and CHIP Grants. The two year cycle for obtaining and expending the grant will help the City complete more substantial projects, with more time to complete them. The City of Xenia received $88,000 in the FY 2016 CDBG formula grant which is to complete curb and sidewalk repairs/replacements in the Laynewood neighborhoods in 2017.

Citizens Participation Plan

The City of Xenia adopts a Citizens Participation Plan that outlines how the City will inform its citizens about funding availability through HUD funding. Read the most recent Citizens Participation Plan.