Downtown Winthrop

Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus Funds (CDBG-CV)

What are CARES Act CDBG-CV funds?

The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) has allocated supplemental CDBG Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the state CDBG program at Commerce. The CDBG-CV funding will be provided to Commerce in up to three separate funding rounds.

State Seeking Input on Draft Plan for CDBG-CV Funds

The state is amending its 2019 Action Plan to include how the CDBG program intends to distribute its $23M CDBG-CV second allocation (CDBG-CV2) and $7.4M CDBG-CV third allocation (CDBG-CV3). In accordance with applicable federal citizen participation regulations and CARES Act waivers, this draft 2019 Action Plan Amendment will be open for public comment from December 22-30, 2020, with an online public hearing scheduled at 3:30 pm on December 29, 2020 to receive input on priority community development and housing needs. The draft Action Plan Amendment will be available for review, and instructions for attending the online hearing will be posted here by December 22, 2020. To submit written comments by 5:00 pm on December 30, 2020; or request auxiliary communication aides, services, or documents in an alternate format to provide input, please contact kaaren.roe@commerce.wa.gov at (360) 725-3018, or mail to Commerce, PO Box 42525, Olympia WA 98504-2525. The final version then will be submitted to HUD and available on this website.

Who will receive CDBG-CV funds from Commerce?

The first $7.7 million CDBG-CV1 allocation is granted to CDBG nonentitlement city and county governments (cities with less than 50,000 population and not part of a CDBG entitlement urban county CDBG program; and counties with less than 200,000 in population excluding entitlement cities).

The second $23 million CDBG-CV2 allocation is granted for eligible, CDBG entitlement and nonentitlement city and county government, and state activities based on COVID-19 factors prioritized by HUD, state and local governments. Additional details will be added  here once the Action Plan Amendment for this CDBG-CV2 allocation is approved by HUD.

The third $7.4M CDBG-CV3 allocation will be made available after further needs assessment, planning and public input for its Action Plan Amendment.  Additional details will be added here once the Action Plan Amendment for this CDBG-CV3 allocation is approved by HUD.

CDBG-CV1 FUNDS

CDBG-CV1 grants fund local public services and microenterprise assistance programs; and public health, emergency response, or temporary housing facilities that address COVID-19 impacts, and grant administration. Here is the CDBG-CV1 Eligible Activities Guide (PDF). CDBG funded activities must benefit low- and moderate-income persons or meet the CDBG urgent need national objective criteria.

How do eligible cities and counties apply for CDBG-CV1 funds?

Here is the CDBG-CV1 application roadmap.

  • Submit the CDBG-CV1 application through ZoomGrants by September 3, 2020 for full funding consideration. Late applications may be accepted with CDBG approval.
  • Only ZoomGrants accounts and log-ins created by eligible local governments (cities, towns or counties) are valid for application submission.
  • Once the account is created, the eligible local government can invite collaborators to assist with completing the application. 
  • Recommendation:  The applicant local government should schedule the CDBG public hearing as soon as possible, as they begin working on their application. See the CDBG-CV1 Citizen Participation Guide.
Apply via ZoomGrants

The following resources describe how to create a ZoomGrants account and start a CDBG-CV1 application. The actual CDBG grant application may differ than the information shown in the example slides.

Using ZoomGrants to Apply for CDBG-CV1 Grant
ZoomGrants Applicant Slideshow 
CDBG-CV1 ZoomGrants Application Preview

Questions:

CDBG Content Related Questions
Kaaren Roe, CDBG-CV Program
kaaren.roe@commerce.wa.gov 
360.725.3018

ZoomGrants Technical Questions
Tech Support Desk
Questions@ZoomGrants.com
866-323-5404 ext. 2

What is the maximum CDBG-CV1 grant amount and how are funds distributed?

The population-based approach distributes funds equitably across the state and targets low- and moderate-income populations. The maximum CDBG-CV1 grant amount depends on whether a consortium is established or not. The CDBG-CV1 consortium approach supports local/regional services and assistance programs, builds on local grant administration capacity, allows flexibility to respond to state and local COVID-19 priorities. Potential county consortium totals and specific jurisdiction allotments are in the applicable CDBG-CV1 Fund Distribution list. To receive maximum funds through a CDBG-CV1 consortium, review the CDBG-CV1 Consortium Guide (PDF) and use this CDBG-CV1 Funding Request Worksheet (Excel). 

The grant options are summarized below. Given the need to expedite CDBG-CV funds, Commerce has combined the CDBG-CV1 allotments by county (each city allotment added with the county‘s allotment) in this list, and will accept this county-wide consortium grant request from the county, unless the participating cities in that county or the county request otherwise. 

CDBG-CV1 Grant Option

Grantee Recipient

Consortium

Service Area

Entity providing assistance to service area residents, or managing project


Total CDBG-CV1 Award

A

City

No

Single city

City grantee or a subrecipient serving city area

Up to $13 per city LMI population*

B

County

No

Single county

County grantee or a subrecipient serving county area

County population formula amount**

C

County or city

Yes

2 or more counties and cities

County or City grantee, or a subrecipient serving the combined areas

Combined county population formula amounts**,
PLUS $13 per city LMI population*,
PLUS $1,000 for each consortium city or county (not including grant recipient)

* City amount = $13 per LMI population based on HUD LMI percentage or CDBG approved income survey ** County amount = $3 million distributed based on population (including nonentitlement cities), with a minimum of $8,000 for counties under 5,000 population.

How do people or businesses impacted by COVID-19 access the assistance?

The CDBG-funded services and programs may be offered directly by the local government CDBG recipient or they may pass the funds to a subrecipient service provider. So contact your local government, community action program, or associate development organization to learn if CDBG-funded assistance or other resources are available, and the qualifications. CDBG assistance is for persons with low- and moderate-incomes, and microenterprises (small businesses with five or fewer employees, with one being the owner).

When do the funds begin and end?

CDBG-CV funds may reimburse allowable costs incurred by the grantee recipient or subrecipient for approved activities related to COVID-19 beginning March 27, 2020 (CARES Act authorization date). The funds must be expended in a timely manner to address immediate needs. The grantee recipient’s CDBG-CV contract will establish the end date, which could extend to June 30, 2022.

Program Links

CDBG Home Page
CDBG Specialty Grants
Consolidated Plan and Action Plan

Technical Assistance Resources

CDBG-CV Overview (PDF) 
CDBG-CV1 Funding Distribution List (PDF) 
CDBG-CV1 Consortium Guide (PDF)
CDBG-CV1 Funding Request Worksheet (Excel)
CDBG-CV1 Eligible Activities Guide (PDF)
CRF and CDBG-CV Eligible Activities Comparison (PDF)
CDBG-CV1 Citizen Participation Guide (PDF)
CDBG-CV1 LMI and National Objectives Guide  (PDF)
CDBG COVID-19 Microenterprise Assistance Guide (PDF) 
CDBG COVID-19 Microenterprise Assistance Application and Verification Form (Word)
CDBG COVID-19 Microenterprise Assistance Agreement (Word)
CDBG COVID-19 Microenterprise Payment Detail Report  (Excel)
CDBG COVID-19 Subsistence Payment Guide (PDF)
CDBG COVID-19 Subsistence Payment Application and Verification Form (Word)
CDBG COVID-19 Subsistence Payment Detail Report (Excel) 
Management Handbook & Forms                                                                               

Need help?

CDBG Section Manager
Local Government Division
kaaren.roe@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360.725.3018
www.commerce.wa.gov/CDBG