Community Development Block Grant

Annually, the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), administered by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides federal grant funding to state and local governments. HUD provides these grants on a formula basis to select cities, counties and states in order to assist in the development of viable communities by providing decent housing, suitable living environments and expanded economic opportunities for residents who are low and moderate income persons.

West Hartford is defined by HUD as a CDBG “entitlement” community. As such, based on the size and the age of its housing stock, West Hartford receives a formula-based grant to carry out a wide range of community development activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, economic development, and providing improved community facilities and services. 

To receive its annual CDBG entitlement grant, a grantee must develop and submit to HUD its Five-Year Consolidated Plan; a jurisdiction's comprehensive planning document and application for CDBG funding. The goals will serve as the criteria against which HUD will evaluate a jurisdiction's Plan and its performance under the Plan. Also, the Consolidated Plan must include several required certifications, including that not less than 70% of the CDBG funds received, over a one, two or three year period specified by the grantee, will be used for activities that benefit low and moderate income persons, and that the grantee will affirmatively further fair housing.

CDBG funds may be used for activities which include, but are not limited to:

• Acquisition of real property.
• Relocation and demolition.
• Rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures.
• Construction of public facilities and improvements, such as water and sewer facilities, streets, neighborhood centers, and the conversion of school buildings for eligible purposes.
• Public services, within certain limits; activities relating to energy conservation and renewable energy resources. 
• Provision of assistance to profit-motivated businesses to carry out economic development and job creation/retention activities.

InEligible activities for CDBG funding include:

• Acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of buildings for the general conduct of government.
• Political activities; certain income payments; and construction of new housing by units of general local government.

A grantee must develop and follow a detailed plan which provides for, and encourages, citizen participation and which emphasizes participation by persons of low- or moderate-income, particularly residents of predominantly low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, slum or blighted areas, and areas in which the grantee proposes to use CDBG funds.

The plan must provide citizens with reasonable and timely access to local meetings, information, and records related to the grantee's proposed and actual use of funds; provide for public hearings to obtain citizen views and to respond to proposals and questions at all stages of the community development program, including at least the development of needs, the review of proposed activities, and review of program performance; provide for timely written answers to written complaints and grievances; and identify how the needs of non-English speaking residents will be met in the case of public hearings where a significant number of non-English speaking residents can be reasonably expected to participate.

Based on the size and the age of its housing stock, West Hartford receives a formula-based grant to carry out a wide range of community development activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, economic development, and providing improved community facilities and services. The table below indicates the amounts of these grants for the past ten years.

For more information please contact West Hartford Social Services at 860-561-7562.