Community Development Block Grant Program

Public Notices

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The Program

The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. It provides annual grants on a formula basis to general units of local government and States.

The City of Hermitage is an Entitlement City under the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.

Responsibilities

The City is responsible for the CDBG program application, implementation, grant management and project close-out. The City of Hermitage Board of Commissioners is responsible for the legislative actions and program activity authorization in accordance with State and Federal CDBG regulations.

Resources

The CDBG program is a flexible program that 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 the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The CDBG program provides annual grants on a formula basis to general units of local government and States.

Program Objectives

The primary statutory objective of the CDBG program is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low- and moderate-income. The City must ensure that at least 70% of its CDBG grant funds are used for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income persons over a one-, two-, or three-year time period selected by the City.

This general objective is achieved by granting “maximum feasible priority” to activities which benefit low- and moderate-income families or aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight. Under unique circumstances, the City may also use their funds to meet urgent community development needs. A need is considered urgent if it poses a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community and has arisen in the past 18 months.

Roles & Responsibilities of the City

Local governments have the responsibility to consider local needs, prepare grant applications for submission to the State, and carry out the funded community development activities. Local governments must comply with Federal and State requirements.

Eligible Activities

Communities receiving CDBG funds from the State may use the funds for many kinds of community development activities including, but not limited to:
  • Assistance to nonprofit entities for community development activities
  • Assistance to private, for profit entities to carry out economic development activities (including assistance to micro-enterprises)
  • Construction or reconstruction of streets, water and sewer facilities, neighborhood centers, recreation facilities, and other public works
  • Demolition
  • Planning activities
  • Public services
  • Rehabilitation of public and private buildings
  • Acquisition of property for public purposes