West Virginia Community Development Block Grant

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     The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program was established by Congress as part of the Housing and Community Development Act (HCDA) of 1974.

The West Virginia Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) provides grants to local governments (towns, cities, and counties) that do not receive CDBG direct funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The primary objective of CDBG funding is to develop sustainable communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities principally for persons of low to moderate income.

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Objectives

The primary objective of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 is the development of viable urban communities by providing housing and a suitable living environment and expanding the economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income.

 

National Objectives

Activities must meet one of the following national objectives:

• Provides principal benefit to low-moderate income persons

• Eliminates or prevents slums and blight

• Meets urgent needs that threaten health or welfare where no other resources are available

 

State Objectives

• Supporting job creation or retention

• Providing affordable water/sewer service that promotes economic growth, community health and environment quality

• Increasing access to facilities and services that revitalize neighborhood and downtown areas

• Support the development of viable infrastructure systems (such as water, sewer, storm water, and broadband) to improve living conditions and bolster economic development.

• Improve quality of life by enhancing public facilities and eliminating factors that affect environmental quality or public health through activities such as mitigating blighted and abandoned properties, supporting the remediation of brownfield sites, and enhancing parks and recreational facilities.

• Develop local strategies through community planning to support improved living environments and strengthen economic and community development.

 

Community and Economic Development Objectives

• National objective and percent of low and moderate-income persons served.

• The relationship to CDBG program design objectives.

• The public health, environmental, and economic development benefits of the project.

• The degree to which the project will correct identified deficiencies or achieve compliance with required standards.

• The cost effectiveness of the project.

• The availability of secured matching funds for the project.

• Match (not required) but scored with additional points.

• Cost effectiveness.

• The degree to which the project achieves state, regional, and local planning goals.

• The readiness of the project to proceed.

• Resiliency measures incorporated in the project.

• In quantitative terms, the proposed outcomes, and accomplishments the project is to achieve.

• Open CDBG grants, other requests from the same area.

• Applicant's capacity to administer and implement the project.

 

Potential Activities

Towns and counties may undertake a broad range of activities provided each activity:

• Is eligible for funding

• Meets a national objective

• Can receive environmental clearance

 

Types of Projects

Infrastructure projects

• Application deadline January 29, 2021

• Maximum grant $2,000,000

 

Parks/recreational facilities

• Application deadline January 29, 2021

• Maximum grant $250,000

 

Demolition of blighted/abandoned properties

• Application deadline January 29, 2021

• Maximum grant $250,000 in CDBG funds

 

Brownfield projects

• Application deadline January 29, 2021

• Maximum grant $1,000,000 in CDBG funds

 

Broadband projects

• Application deadline January 29, 2021

• Maximum grant $1,250,000 in CDBG funds

 

Planning grants (non-broadband)

• Accepted throughout the program year

• Maximum grant $250,000 in CDBG funds

 

Planning grants (broadband)

• Application deadline January 29, 2021

• Maximum grant $30,000-$50,000 in CDBG funds for municipal plans, $50,000-$75,000 for county plans, and $75,000-125,000 for multi-county regional plans.

 

State CDBG funds cannot fund the following activities:

• Government Buildings

• General Government Expenses

• Political Activities

• Purchase of equipment, furnishings, or personal property

• Operating and maintenance expenses

 

WV Community Advancement and Development (WV CAD) reserves the right to award an amount in CDBG funds less than requested depending upon the availability of funds and may reject any or all proposals based on the quality and/or merits of the proposals. WV CAD reserves the right to substantiate any applicant's qualifications, financial information, capability to perform, and past CDBG performance if applicable.

 

Application Procedures

Only towns and county commissions can seek Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Eligible communities submit an application to the West Virginia Development Office. Water, sewer, and economic development projects require prior review by the West Virginia Infrastructure Council. The state awards funds after objectively reviewing applications. The program is highly competitive and only a few applications receive funds.

 

CDBG- CV Program

     In response to the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19), the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) granted the State of West Virginia $20,250,608 in funding for a supplemental program to CDBG, known as CDBG-CV. These funds were authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The fundamental goals of CDBG-CV are to help local governments in the prevention of, preparation for, and response to the COVID-19 in communities throughout the State. CDBG-CV funds are available for qualifying public facility projects, public services, and planning activities that serve primarily low to moderate income residents State-wide.