CDBG - Community Development Block Grant 2009 Cycle

It's that time of year again! The City is starting a new Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Year. Groups and organizations hoping to use CDBG funds in 2009 should prepare a CDBG application and submit the application to the City. To be considered, CDBG applications must be received by the Community Development by Tuesday, October 14th, 2008, at 5 pm. Applications may be mailed in or delivered in person. Sorry, e-mailed or faxed applications are not accepted.

Application
Program Overview
2009 Timeline
 

Applications

Applications will be reviewed by the City’s Human Relations Commission (HRC) at its October 26th workshop, followed by a public hearing before the HRC on November 5th. Meetings are held at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo and are advertised in the local newspaper in advance of the hearing. Anyone may comment before the HRC takes action. At that hearing, the Commission will make funding recommendations to City Council.  Download the application here.

Program Overview

The City expects to receive approximately $600,000 in federal CDBG funds for the 2009 cycle. CDBG activities must, by law, meet federal objectives and rules. The Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) has three broad national objectives:

1. To benefit persons and households with incomes below 80 percent of area median incomes;

2. To aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight; and

3. To meet urgent community development needs that pose a serious, immediate threat to public health or welfare, such as floods, earthquakes or other disasters.

CDBG-eligible activities include: acquisition of real property for affordable housing, construction or rehabilitation of public facilities and improvements, site/building clearance and demolition to support affordable housing, tenant relocation, provision of certain types of public services, removal of architectural barriers, housing rehabilitation, historic preservation, code enforcement, special economic development activities, planning studies and grant administration.

HUD requires that at least 70 percent of the Urban County's grants go to activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons. At least 51 percent of individual project or program funds must benefit low- and moderate-income persons, and up to 20 percent of the City's total funding can be used for overall CDBG program administration and other indirect costs. Up to 15 percent of the Urban County’s CDBG funds can go toward Public Services – traditionally, the City has earmarked all of its 15% of Public Service funds for the Homeless Shelter.

2009 Timeline

Please help us and share your thoughts on community needs by participating in the program this year.  Take a look at the schedule for the coming year.

For more information contact Michael Codron, Housing Programs Manager, at 781-7175.  Or, by e-mail at mcodron@slocity.org.