Indianapolis, In. — The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs is announcing the first round of Community Development Block Grants for 2019 is open.
The following programs are accepting applications this round:
- Main Street Revitalization;
- Public Facilities;
- Stormwater Improvements; and
- Wastewater/Drinking Water.
The complete application, which includes the instructions, proposals/application template and sample documents can be found at www.in.gov/ocra/cdbg. A video overview of the application can be accessed here.
New guidelines from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on LMI census data and income surveys requires OCRA to make adjustments to the income survey policies and procedures.
Effective April 1, applications must use the new census data and income survey process. Communities must use the HUD LMI Map tool to source the LMI data. An income survey would only be necessary if a community has an LMI percentage lower than 51 percent. In those cases, the community must seek permission from OCRA before moving forward with an income survey. Additionally, income survey certifiers will no longer be required to verify an income survey. A webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2 to provide more detailed information on this change.
Round one proposals are being accepted until Friday, May 3 at 4:00 p.m., ET. Final applications are due by Friday, June 28 at 4:00 p.m., ET with funding awards announced on Thursday, August 15.
Funding for all of the CDBG programs comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is administered by OCRA. The state of Indiana distributes CDBG funds to rural communities to assist units of local government with various community projects like: improving infrastructure, downtown revitalization, public facilities improvements and economic development.
For further information on these programs, contact the assigned Community Liaison for your region.
