The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a federal grant program that provides funding for a variety of projects and programs to serve low- and moderate-income residents and areas.
The City is considering applying for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDEO) for one or more Small Cities Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for up to Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000.00) in the Regular (Neighborhood or Housing or Commercial) Category and in the Economic Development Category for up to one million five- hundred thousand ($1,500,000) or more. These funds must be used for one of the following purposes:
- To benefit low- and moderate- income persons; or
- To aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight; or
- To meet other community development needs of a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community
The categories of activities for which these grant funds may be used are in the areas of housing, neighborhood revitalization, commercial revitalization and/or economic development. Specific improvements can include such activities as acquisition of real property, construction of public infrastructure such as roads, parks or sewer mains, rehabilitation of houses and commercial buildings and/or energy conservation.
Due to the complexities and depth of the grant application and grant administration, the City will be seeking grant writing, planning and grants administration including grant and contract management through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
Payment of funds for grant writing and grant administration services is contingent on receiving the grant. Typically, the firm earns percentage of the amount awarded in the grant.
There is a match requirement to receive the maximum of 25 points for matching contribution on the CDBG application. Staff will be requesting a CRA budget amendment to appropriate TIF funding in the amount of $50,000 as a match if the board authorizes to apply for the CDBG grant.
There will be two public meetings scheduled to receive input from residents concerning the community's economic and community development needs.