The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program provides flexible funding to carry out a wide range of community development activities directed toward neighborhood revitalization, economic development, and improved community facilities/services. Beginning in 1974, the CDBG program is one of the longest continuously run programs at HUD. All CDBG-funded activities must meet one of the following national objectives: (1) Benefit low- and moderate-income persons; (2) Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blight; or (3) Meet certain community development needs having a particular urgency.
In Idaho, CDBG funds may be utilized to address construction or renovation of various infrastructure projects such as water, wastewater and solid waste facilities, streets, and flood control projects; construction or improvements of a range of community facilities such as senior, health and social services centers; expansion of public services to serve low-income persons; creation of new jobs through small business loans or infrastructure improvements; and various affordable housing projects including home reconstruction, rehabilitation or repair programs.
Applications are accepted in the following program categories:
- Public Facility Construction and Improvement - Sewer and water systems, streets, fire stations, removal of architectural barriers, and other public infrastructure. Communities can extend infrastructure to public housing projects or assist homeowners with improvements.
- Economic Development - Public facility construction and improvements that support companies who are expanding and creating new jobs or new companies that will be creating jobs.
- Senior Citizen and Community Centers - Rehabilitation, expansion and construction.
For additional information see documents outlining Idaho Commerce's one-year action plan, five-year strategic plan and citizen participation strategy at
http://commerce.idaho.gov/communities/community-grants/community-development-block-grant-cdbg/consolidated-planning-documents/.
Examples of recently funded projects are as follows.
Project sizes range from $55,000 to $9,000,000.
Additional funding is available through the Disaster Recovery Initiative (DRI) and Disaster Recovery Enhancement Fund (DREF). Such cases are addressed in real-time on a case-by-case basis rather than only once a year under an annual competition.