COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT - PUBLIC FACILITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS AND PUBLIC SERVICE GENERAL INFORMATION:
Each July, the Pierce County Urban Consortium receives approximately $3 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to assist lower-income people, households and communities. Funds assist social services and infrastructure improvements throughout the Pierce County Consortium, which consists of 19 cities and towns, excluding the cities of Tacoma, Lakewood, and Auburn as they operate their own CDBG programs. Federal CDBG program requirements are detailed in 24 CFR 570. County government administers the program for the consortium.
Click here for a map from the Pierce County Auditor's website, and select the map layer 'cities/towns', to determine service area boundaries.
Applications are considered yearly by a Citizen Advisory Board comprised of County city and town elected representatives and a number voluteers from throughout the County. Terms are three years. Potential members can apply here.
ELIGIBILITY:
Activities must meet one of three National Objectives:
- serve predominantly lower-income clients
- eliminate or mitigate slums and blight
- address an emergency need.
Low-income benefit is our primary objective and it is defined in three different ways. Because federal requirements limit the use of the slums & blight and emergency need objectives please contact our staff to discuss their applicability if you believe they might apply to your situation.
- Low-income eligibility (income eligible) is defined annually by HUD based on family income projected from the latest census. New figures are received annually, usually by February. Income elibigibility is defined by HUD and can be found at this website. All people and households whose income categories are listed as low-mod, low, or very low are eligible for CDBG assistance based on related family size.
- Certain classes of individuals are presumed to be low-income (presumed benefit) and eligible for CDBG assistance as a group (not as individuals) if they are in one of the following categories: seniors; severely disabled adults; homeless; battered spouses; abused/neglected children and youth; illiterate adults; migrant farm workers, and persons living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, HUD has indicated that persons who use food banks or meals programs may be presumed to be eligible low-income clients.
- Lower-income communities (area benefit) include those cities, towns, communities or specific areas (regardless of size) where more than 51 percent of households have an income that is less than the county median income based on most recent census data. Because of an exemption given to Pierce County, some communities can, in fact, have a population where less than 51 percent is below the county median income. Where census data is not available for the targeted area the county may conduct a survey of the community. That process requires considerable time and should be requested only after consultation with division staff. Lists of pre-determined areas and communities considered to be eligible will be contained in the division's annual CDBG funding application.
Once an activity is determined to meet a National Objective, it must meet one of several eligible activity classifications including a variety of facility, infrastructure, housing, and public service classifications and a number of other classifications. Contact division staff if you have a question about project eligibility. back to the top
EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT GENERAL INFORMATION:
Each year the division receives approximately $120,000 in federal Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds to assist the homeless and those in danger of becoming homeless. Federal program requirements are set forth in 24 CFR 576.
ELIGIBILITY:
There are 3 eligibility categories for ESG funds. They are:
- essential services
- homeless prevention
- shelter maintenance and operations
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Applications for CDBG/ESG are now available for the 2010-11 fiscal year. Completed applications are due December 4, 2009 by 4 p.m. at Community Services, 3602 Pacific Ave., St 200, Tacoma, WA 98418. Click here to view those application materials.
FUNDING PARTNERS:
Those who receive a contract award become responsible for certain contract obligations. In the Public Services Area, they might include routine reports and reimbursement requests. In the Physical Improvement Area, they could be forms and certifications related to construction projects. Routine forms are available on the Funding Partner's page.
ANNUAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
Click here for the 2009-10 Citzen's Advisory Board's (CAB) Schedule.
SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS TO 2008 ONE YEAR ACTION PLAN:
Community Development Block Grant Recovery (CDBG-R) Program
Pierce County is eligible to receive Community Development Block Grant Recovery (CDBG-R) funds, in the amount of $800,889 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In order to receive these funds, Pierce County is required to submit a substantial amendment to the county's 2008 One Year Action Plan. Please click on the CDBG-R Substantial Amendment and CDBG-R Activity Spreadsheet link below to view the amendment and the activities that will be funded with CDBG-R dollars. These activities will be funded once the amendment is approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and funds are contracted between HUD and Pierce County. For questions regarding the amendment please contact sbray@co.pierce.wa.us or call (253) 798-7205. Arrangements for individuals with disabilities or non-English speaking persons can be made by calling (253) 798-7205. TDD/Voice (800) 833-6388.
SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO CDBG-R SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO 2008 ONE YEAR ACTION PLAN
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