Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) - Specialty Grants

The Washington State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program sets aside limited funds for the following specialty grants to assist specific types of projects: Economic Opportunity, Housing Enhancement, and Public Services.

The state CDBG program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Who can apply

  • Eligible applicants are rural Washington State cities, towns with populations less than 50,000, or counties with populations less than 200,000 that are not participants in a HUD Urban County Entitlement Consortium.
  • Non-profit organizations, Indian tribes, and special purpose organizations such as public housing authorities, port districts, community action agencies, and economic development councils, are not eligible to apply directly to the CDBG Program for funding, but may be partners in projects and subrecipients of funding through eligible jurisdictions.

Economic Opportunity Grants

CDBG Economic Opportunity Grants assist eligible, rural Washington State cities and counties with economic resilience and developments projects including job creation, microenterprise assistance, energy-related, and disaster recovery activities that promote vibrant communities and principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

Economic Opportunity (EO) Grant Funds have been exhausted at this time.

For more information contact Jon Galow at 509-847-5021 or
Jon.Galow@commerce.wa.gov.

Housing Enhancement Grants

CDBG Housing Enhancement Grants are awarded to eligible rural Washington State cities and counties as supplemental project financing for necessary off-site infrastructure and related facility costs to improve the affordability of new Housing Trust Fund (HTF) housing projects in their communities.

Funds Available

Approximately $200,000 is available in 2021, with potential of additional hardship funding.

Eligibility Guidelines

CDBG Housing Enhancement Grants are available for project costs not eligible for HTF financing, but essential to the project’s overall success. Eligible costs could include off-site infrastructure costs or non-housing facility costs integral to a comprehensive housing project.

CDBG Housing Enhancement Grants cannot be used for new housing construction, equipment, furnishings, personal property, or luxury items.

Projects must principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

Application Process

1. The initial CDBG Housing Enhancement Grant request forms are submitted within a project’s Housing Trust Fund (HTF) stage two application with the CDBG Housing Enhancement Grant request also included in the project’s HTF application budget.

2. HTF staff review the application to determine HTF eligibility and ranking for funding. CDBG staff review the application to determine CDBG eligibility and financial need for grant funding.

3. If the project is awarded HTF funds and meets the CDBG eligibility criteria, the local government is notified of the potential CDBG award and then must submit the remaining CDBG application materials, which includes public hearing documentation, community demographics, floodplain review, and various certifications of compliance.

4. Once all CDBG application parts are submitted and CDBG eligibility is confirmed, a Housing Enhancement Grant is awarded to the local government. The local government establishes a subrecipient agreement with the HTF applicant and coordinates project funding.

For more information contact Jon Galow at 509-847-5021 or Jon.Galow@commerce.wa.gov.

Public Services Grants

CDBG Public Services Grants are administered by 17 non-entitlement counties throughout Washington State to support partnerships with regional Community Action Programs. Public Services Grants fund: new services, expansion of existing services, implementation of innovative service delivery, and targeting new clients. These grants address the root causes of poverty, and help poor families and individuals regain or retain self-sufficiency.

Application Information

Annual award amounts are allocated by a formula based on service area population, poverty rate, and the amount available from the state’s annual award from HUD.

Invitations to complete a CDBG Public Services grant application will be sent directly to eligible, participating jurisdictions in late February 2021. Counties and service providers submit the online application through ZoomGrants.

Application Resources

 

For more information contact Jeff Hinckle at 360-605-2402 or Jeff.Hinckle@commerce.wa.gov.

 

Program Links

CDBG Home Page
CDBG General Purpose Grants
Consolidated Plan and Action Plan

Technical Assistance Resources

CDBG Fact Sheet – English (PDF)
CDBG Fact Sheet – Spanish (PDF)
Management Handbook & Forms
Guidance Materials
2019 HUD LMI data for non-entitlement jurisdictions (PDF)
HUD LMI Interactive Map
Drinking water and wastewater funding summary (PDF)
Public Works Board
Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council (IACC)
Municipal Research Services Center of Washington
SAM – System for Award Management
US Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Need help?

Jon Galow, CDBG Section Manager
Jon.Galow@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 509-847-5021

Jeff Hinckle, Project Manager
Public Services Grants
Jeff.Hinckle@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-605-2402