Summary:

The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) provides funding to assist a wide range of eligible activities, including housing improvement projects, public facilities such as water and sewer lines, buildings such as local health centers or head start centers, and economic development projects. It's objective is to provide funding for projects that substantially benefit low and moderate income persons. The maximum amount available per applicant is $750,000 for Single-Activity during regular competition and $1,000,000 for Multi-Activity during regular competition.

Eligible applicants selected for funding will be those having the greatest need as evidenced by poverty and per capita income and whose applications most adequately address the needs of low and moderate income persons and have the greatest impact.

Eligible Recipients:

Local Government

Eligible Recipients Detail:

Eligible applicants are units of general local government, excluding metropolitan cities, urban counties, and units of government eligible to participate in the urban counties or metropolitan cities programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Eligible Purpose:

Building Infrastructure; Anchor Institution Infrastructure; Last Mile Infrastructure; Digital Skills Training; General Infrastructure; Broadband Enabled Devices

Eligible Purpose Detail:

CDBG funds can be used for a variety of activity related to broadband-deployment, including:

-Infrastructure development, internet access, wiring, hardware and software purchases, development and construction of computer rooms, digital literacy classes/economic development, etc.
-Public facilities and improvements (includes infrastructure and excludes buildings for the general conduct of government).
-Reconstruction and rehabilitation (housing).
-Public services (education/training).
-Activities carried out through a private or public non-profit.
-Economic development assistance to a for-profit business.

Installation of a broadband trunk is not eligible because the service area is likely too large and not tied to Public Benefit Standards. Public service activities have a 15% grant funding cap. Public services may include the installation of satellite dishes and similar equipment on private homes or the provision of wireless routers and/or computers to income-eligible persons or households. Economic Development projects must comply with Public Benefit Standards.