Announcements
Atlanta, GA – Commissioner Christopher Nunn announced today that forty Georgia communities will receive more than $35 million in federal grants to help grow their local economies. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated the annual funds to the State’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which is administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The awarded communities are comprised of counties and cities statewide which will implement an array of community development projects across the state including housing improvement projects, public facilities such as water and sewer lines or street improvements and buildings such as local health centers or senior centers.
“Community Development Block Grants are impactful tools that benefit all parts of the state, especially rural Georgia,” stated DCA Commissioner Christopher Nunn. “These awards represent locally-driven city and county solutions that will improve the quality of life for many Georgians.”
The State CDBG program is available to eligible non-entitlement local governments. The annual grants support community projects, facilitate creation of jobs, and assist low and moderate-income citizens. This year’s grant awards will fund $30.5 million in infrastructure projects, $3.8 million in housing projects, and $3 million in various building projects.
Since 2012, the CDBG program’s investments in new and enhanced health care facilities have helped more than 39,000 Georgians gain access to improved health care services, primarily in hard-to-reach areas. Over the last 10 years, the CDBG program has provided the resources for critical water and sewer improvements to serve more than 143,000 residents in rural areas. The program has also supported the construction or enhancement of community facilities that serve more than 46,000 youth and senior citizens.
The CDBG grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs received 66 applications requesting more than $59 million, according to KimberlyCarter, DCA’s Director of Community Finance. The applications are scored, rated, and ranked with grants awarded based on the applicant’s overall ranking.
A complete list of 2022 CDBG awards is available here as well as linked below.
As we near the April 1st deadline for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Revitalization Area Strategy (RAS) applications, we are mindful of how the COVID-19 crisis may have affected local governments and partner organizations preparing for an application submission. Therefore, we are extending the deadline for the FY20 State CDBG Annual Competition for Non-Entitlement Communities to Friday, May 1, 2020. All applications must be RECEIVED (not postmarked) by May 1, 2020. Hand delivered applications will not be accepted; only mailed applications received by the deadline from USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc. will be accepted. We are unable to guarantee staffing in the building and are proactively limiting human interactions in response to the virus. We encourage the submission of completed applications as soon as possible and welcome early submissions.
As it relates to deadlines, all threshold related deadlines previously set for April 1 have been extended. The deadlines referenced on page 13 of the FY2020 CDBG Applicants’ Manual are revised as follows:
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Annual Competition Application |
Received no later than May 1, 2020 |
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Completion of Professional Procurement |
May 1, 2020 |
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Completion of Tribal Consultation |
May 1, 2020 |
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Revitalization Area Strategy Application |
Received no later than May 1, 2020 |
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Exceptions to the “Every Other Year” Rule Applicants must have a current WaterFirst, PlanFirst, RAS, or GICH designation (active in the three-year program OR Certified Alumni) |
May 1, 2020 |
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Proposed CDBG Project must be included in the Service Delivery Strategy |
May 1, 2020* |
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The Service Delivery Act (HB 489) |
May 1, 2020* |
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QLG/Comprehensive Planning |
May 1, 2020* |
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DCA Local Government Finance Report requirements |
May 1, 2020* |
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Government Management Indicators Survey |
May 1, 2020* |
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Local Government Audit Act |
May 1, 2020* |
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Deadline for CDBG Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Compliance |
May 1, 2020 |
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The deadlines below remain in effect: |
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Timeliness Deadline |
July 1, 2020 |
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Deadline for Submission of Bonus Point Documentation |
July 1, 2020 |
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Deadline for Submission of Leverage Documentation |
July 1, 2020 |
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Submission of RLF Closeout for Bonus Points |
July 1, 2020 |
*Additional information regarding these items are detailed in the following section.
Local Government Compliance Deadline Extension
For those local governments with a FY2019 audit due to the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts and/or FY2019 Report of Local Government Finance due to the Georgia Department of Affairs due between March 31 and June 30, a one-time 90-day extension may be requested. If necessary, this combined DOAA/DCA extension may be requested by the local government’s Chief Elected Official (Commission Chair, Mayor, etc.), and would be applicable only for FY2019 submissions due between March 31-June 30, 2020. Additional guidance on extension requests will be available in the coming days.
Jurisdictions which request and are granted extensions for any of the DCA or DOAA requirements identified above by the existing deadline will not be penalized in applications for funding, program designations, or other state-administered benefits.
In an effort to further encourage social distancing, DCA has modified the requirements for original signatures and in-person public hearings for the FY20 CDBG Annual Competition.
Documents previously requiring original signatures may be signed and scanned with the resulting copy placed in the application. Alternatively, the use of a third-party electronic signature vendor may also be used, such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign, which allow for a signature audit report. Applicants must include the resulting audit report for all documents electronically signed using a third-party vendor in the application. This measure should assist with maintaining social distancing protocols as documents can be mailed or emailed, signed and returned for placement in the application.
Additionally, as it relates to social distancing, communities have the option of conducting a virtual public hearing if any public hearing has been cancelled or postponed due to the public health crisis. The virtual hearing must allow for questions in real time, with answers coming directly from the elected representatives to all attendees. As with an in-person hearing, the local government must select a virtual hearing method or platform that provides for accessibility for persons with disabilities and LEP to participate. All notice requirements as outlined in the FY20 CDBG Applicant’s Manual remain in effect and must be documented.
As we near the revised deadline of May 1st, we have received questions regarding an additional deadline extension. Most of these questions cite the need to obtain original signatures and/or hold public hearings. By allowing electronic signatures and providing HUD’s guidance on virtual public hearings, we are confident these barriers have been mitigated. The 30-day extension to May 1, 2020 remains in effect at this time and we are excited to see the applications that have already been received. Feel free to continue submitting any completed applications in advance of the deadline.
We understand these are unprecedented times. Rest assured our office will continue to monitor the situation and adapt as necessary. Should you have any questions or need additional guidance, please contact our office at CDBG.Biz@dca.ga.gov.
ATLANTA (August 30, 2019) – Gov. Brian Kemp today announced that 59 Georgia communities will receive a total of $41 million in federal assistance to help grow their local economies. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated the funding to Georgia’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which is administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
“These communities understand the importance of how these funds can enhance and improve the quality of life for residents across the state,” Gov. Kemp said. “When communities are revitalized, their citizens are as well. The CDBG program continues to elevate Georgia’s prominence as a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
Of this year’s grant awards, $38 million will go to infrastructure projects such as neighborhood revitalization, construction of community facilities, and water, sewer, drainage or street improvements. An additional $2.95 million will be disbursed through the Employment Incentive Program (EIP) and the Redevelopment Fund, which together are projected to create 192 new jobs and generate $70.4 million in additional private investment.
“I look forward to recognizing these outstanding communities at our annual Fall Conference,” said DCA Commissioner Christopher Nunn. “The CDBG recipients embody careful planning, hard work and dedication to improving their communities.”
The CDBG program is available to eligible local governments through a competitive grant program. Each year, CDBG supports community projects that create jobs and assist citizens with low and moderate incomes.
Over the past decade, Georgia’s CDBG program has invested in health care facilities that have helped more than 35,000 Georgians gain access to improved health services, has provided resources for critical water and sewer improvements serving more than 177,000 residents in rural areas, has supported the construction or enhancement of community facilities to serve more than 16,000 youth and senior citizens, and has helped to create more than 6,100 new jobs through the Employment Incentive Program.
A complete list of 2019 CDBG awards is attached. More information regarding Georgia’s CDBG awards is available below.
State of Georgia CDBG 2022 Annual Competition Underway
The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) received 66 applications requesting $59,298,180 in assistance through the State of Georgia Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2022 Annual Competition.
An alphabetical listing with project descriptions is provided. The Community Finance Division (CFD) will review applications using the evaluation and scoring criteria outlined in the FFY 2022 CDBG Applicants’ Manual. Funding announcements are anticipated in September 2022.
The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) received 85 applications requesting $58,671,086 in assistance through the State of Georgia Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) FY 2020 Annual Competition. A detailed analysis of the types of applications received and the amounts requested as well as an alphabetical listing with project descriptions are provided. The Community Finance Division (CFD) has begun its review of the applications using evaluation and scoring criteria outlined in the FFY 2020 CDBG Applicants’ Manual. Funding announcements are anticipated in August 2020.
Please join us for the FY2021 State of Georgia CDBG Recipients’ Workshop on October 19 – 21, 2021. The goal of the workshop is to provide a broad overview of program management requirements on topics including Grant Administration, Financial Management, Monitoring, Procurement, and Labor Standards as it relates to the CDBG Annual Competition. In addition, Mayors, County Commission Chairs, and other elected officials are strongly urged to attend all sessions; however, the first two sessions on Tuesday, October 19 will be vitally important to accepting your award. DCA staff will provide information to help local government officials and staff better understand the requirements associated with the use of federal funds. A full agenda is available here.
The webinar is provided at no charge. Recipients are strongly urged to have adequate representation at the workshop. Staff responsible for the day-to-day administration of the program should attend both days of the workshop. Both new and experienced recipients and administrators should attend due to important updates on program requirements.
Additionally, DCA will host a Listening Session on Thursday, October 21 at 1 pm to receive constituents’ input as we develop and implement programs.
To register for the workshop, visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2443368142779068944
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Should you have questions about the workshop, please contact Tommy Lowmon, Director, Office of Community Development at tommy.lowmon@dca.ga.gov.
DCA has continued the conversation, both at an internal staff level and with legal counsel, regarding the 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application cycle and its intersection with Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) requirements. DCA is committed to working within the constructs of applicable state laws and federal regulations to ensure the most effective implementation of the program. Through further evaluation and analysis, DCA is revising the guidance provided, effective immediately, surrounding SDS requirements affecting the 2020 application cycle.
As we modify the guidance and SDS requirements for this year’s competition, the following components will be required for all applicants:
- An approved SDS on file with DCA, in compliance with applicable state law; and
- An approved SDS indicating that the applicant is an authorized provider of the service for which it is requesting CDBG funds (including housing).
It will not be necessary for an SDS to specifically identify that grant funds are a funding mechanism if other legal and appropriate funding sources are cited within the SDS document. Although it is prudent for a community’s SDS to contemplate the use of grant funds to support service provision, that language will not be included in the evaluation for the 2020 CDBG competition. See page 16 of the FY2020 CDBG Applicants’ Manual for additional details regarding the Service Delivery Strategy.
I trust this revised guidance helps you as you work toward submission of your 2020 CDBG application. Best wishes to all communities as we approach the April 1, 2020 application deadline. If you have further questions regarding this revised guidance or other CDBG application matters, please contact Kimberly Carter, Director, Office of Community Development, at 404-679-0604 or by email at kim.carter@dca.ga.gov.
