The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Summary:
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a grant provided by the U.S. Department and Urban Development. GHURA administers the grant for the island of Guam for use in revitalizing neighborhoods, providing affordable housing, expanding economic opportunities, and improving community facilities and services.

National Objectives:
An activity must meet one of the following CDBG National Objectives to be eligible to receive funds:

Eligible Applicants:
Applicants must be organizations or individuals on Guam.

1. Government agencies
2. Non-Profit organizations
3. Entrepreneurs and private business carrying out economic development activities to expand job and business opportunities for low-income families and for low-income neighborhoods

Eligible Activities:

1. Acquiring real property (primarily land, buildings, and other permanent improvements to the property) for program purposes. For example, buying abandoned houses for rehabilitation or an old industrial site in a distressed neighborhood for redevelopment
2. Demolishing property and clearing sites to prepare the land for other uses.
3. Reconstructing or rehabilitating housing and other property. For example, homeless shelters
4. Building public facilities and improvements, such as streets, sidewalks, sewers and water systems, parks and community centers, and fire stations.
5. Helping people prepare for and obtain employment through education and job training, welfare-to-work activities, and other services.
6. Assisting for-profit businesses with special economic development activities. For example, micro enterprise loans to low-income entrepreneurs, assembling land to attract new industry, or business loans to help retain or expand existing businesses that employ low-income workers.
7. Providing public services for youths, seniors, or the disabled. For example, day care centers, youth and senior centers, health care facilities, transportation, or counseling.
8. Carrying out crime reduction initiatives such as establishing neighborhood watch programs, rehabilitating or constructing police substations, and clearing abandoned buildings used for illegal activities.
9. Assisting home buyers directly through down payment assistance or a revolving loan fund for first-time buyers.
10. Enforcing local building codes to reverse housing deterioration and other signs of blight.
11. Meeting planning and administrative expenses, such as costs related to managing CDBG funds.

How to Apply:
GHURA engages in an application process to identify qualified and eligible community partners to execute CDBG activities. Applications are available during the annual CPD Grant Cycle generally at the start of the calendar year. For more information, please call the GHURA Community Planning and Development Office, Research, Planning & Evaluation Division at 475-1407.

Technical Guidance:
The CDBG program is authorized by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. Program regulations are at 24 CFR Part 570. Additional information about the CDBG program can be found by visiting the CDBG program web pages at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development web site.