Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

In order to apply for Year 49 (2023) CDBG Funding you must apply through the ZoomGrants link.
 Apply via ZoomGrants™

Program Description

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is offered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. Beginning in 1974, the CDBG program is one of the longest continuously run programs at HUD. The CDBG program provides annual grants on a formula basis to 1209 general units of local government and States.

CDBG is an important tool for helping local governments tackle the serious challenges facing their communities. The CDBG program has made a difference in the lives of millions of people and their communities across the Nation.

Entitlement-Specific Program

The City of Cleveland Heights is an Entitlement community. The CDBG entitlement program allocates annual grants to larger cities and urban counties to develop viable communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and opportunities to expand economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.

Over a 3-year period not less than 70% of CDBG funds must be used for activities that benefit low and moderate income persons. In addition, each activity must meet one of the following national objectives for the program: benefit low- and moderate-income persons, prevention or elimination of slums or blight, or address community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community for which other funding is not available.

The City of Cleveland Heights decided upon receipt of its first block grant funding to develop a citizen participation mechanism that would do more than provide the community with limited opportunities to participate in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The City ensured active citizen participation in the program throughout the year by forming a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for the purpose of providing the community with information on the CDBG program.

This citizen participation plan is established by the City of Cleveland Heights in accordance with the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and 24 CFR 91.105.

Citizen Participation Plan

The purpose of the citizen participation plan is to provide for and encourage citizen participation, with particular emphasis on participation by persons of low- and moderate-income. The plan provides for participation of residents in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods as the areas for which proposals are to be made for use of federal funds. View Citizen Participation Plan (PDF).

The City operates some programs directly including: Housing Preservation Office, which provides home repair assistance for eligible seniors and low-to moderate-income homeowners and the Office on Aging, which offers social work assistance to our seniors;

Activities

The following activities are potentially eligible for funding under our CDBG Program. All such activities are required to occur in eligible areas and/or to benefit the low/moderate income residents of Cleveland Heights:

  • Economic Development
  • Housing Rehabilitation Activities
  • Planning and Administration (20% cap) includes Fair Housing activities
  • Public Facilities and Improvements
  • Public Services (15% Cap)

How To Apply

Applications are accepted annually through an online application form. The application period is typically open in June/July. For the Year 49 (2023) CDBG Program, the open application period is from June 1, 2022 through July 29, 2022. To apply you must you the ZoomGrants Link below. 

Apply via ZoomGrants™

A pre-application is required to be submitted and approved prior to accessing the main application. Please allow at least 1 business day in order for the pre-application to be approved or denied. 

Applicants will present their request to the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) at one of two public hearings in August. CAC makes recommendations to Cleveland Heights City Council as to how CDBG funds should be allocated. The CAC will hold two deliberation meetings, in September. At the second of those meetings, the committee will vote on its final Block Grant recommendations.  

City staff and the CAC present separate recommendations to City Council in October. City Council permits time for public comments before making a final funding decision in November. 

  1. What is CDBG?
  2. What types of programs and projects does the CDBG fund?
  3. What is the CAC?
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