Community Development Block Grant Program funds help strengthen Maryland’s communities by expanding affordable housing opportunities, creating jobs, stabilizing neighborhoods and improving the overall quality of life.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Units of general local government in non-entitlement counties with a population of less than 200,000 and non-entitlement cities and towns of less than 50,000 population are eligible to apply. Multiple jurisdictions may jointly apply for funds. Other entities, public or private, may be a sub-recipient of the eligible local government.
List of Eligible Jurisdictions
Who is Not Eligible to Apply
Applications for projects in the following entitlement counties and cities CANNOT be accepted by the State:
- Counties: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s (Note this also applies to municipalities in these counties)
- Cities: Annapolis, Baltimore, Bowie, Cumberland, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Hagerstown and Salisbury
How Does the Program Work?
Congress created the Community Development Block Grant Program under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The primary objective is to develop viable communities, provide decent housing and a suitable living environment, and to expand economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income. The
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) oversees the Program.
The Program is comprised of two parts. The Entitlement Program is directly administered by HUD and provides Federal funds to large metropolitan entitlement communities. The States and Small Cities Program provides Federal funds to the States and Puerto Rico (with the exception of Hawaii) who then distribute funds to non-entitlement counties, small cities, and towns. Congress allocates funds to the program annually. The Entitlement Program receives approximately 70% of the allocation and the remaining 30% is distributed to the States and Small Cities Program.
Maryland's Community Development Block Grant Program is administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. The State receives an allocation from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Maryland's funds are primarily awarded through two funding categories.
- The "Community Development" category is competitive and applications are accepted once a year.
- The "Special Projects" category is for planning, economic development, and projects meeting criteria for a special project.
Uses of Funds
Community Development Block Grant Program funded projects must be for eligible activities under Program regulations AND must meet one of the three national objectives:
- Benefits persons of low- and moderate- income
- Eliminates slum and blight
- Meets an urgent need of recent origin that threatens public health and safety
Eligible projects generally fall into three types:
- Housing
- Public facilities (water/sewer; streets; childcare, senior or community centers; shelters)
- Economic development projects
Over a designated three-year period, the state must cumulatively use 70% of its allocation to benefit persons of low and moderate income.
Application
The State notifies eligible localities of the availability of funds and conducts training sessions on application development.
- Community Development Applications for Community Development projects are accepted once each year through a competitive process.
- Special Projects Applications for Special Projects and Planning can be submitted at any time throughout the year after a written approval has been received.
Application Materials and Related Information
CDBG Awards
HUD Income Limits
More Information
CONTACT: Cindy Stone
Director, Community Development Programs
Division of Neighborhood Revitalization
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
7800 Harkins Road
Lanham, MD 20706
E:
Cindy.Stone@Maryland.gov
P:
301-429-7519
Toll-Free:
1-800-543-4505
