Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Program Description
Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant Program is a federally funded, competitive grant program designed to help small cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs. Assistance is provided to qualifying cities and towns for housing, community, and economic development projects that assist low and moderate-income residents, or by revitalizing areas of slum or blight.
CDF I is for communities with high statistical indication of need.
CDF II is for communities that are not eligible for CDF I due to lower statistical need.
Mini-Entitlement is for communities that are designated by DHCD to receive an allocation of funds due to their high statistical indication of need, poverty rate and size.
Eligible Applicants
Municipalities with a population of under 50,000 that do not receive CDBG funds directly from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are eligible for CDBG funding. Communities may apply on behalf of a specific developer or property owner.
Eligible Activities
Eligible CDBG projects include but are not limited to housing rehabilitation or development, micro-enterprise or other business assistance, infrastructure, community/public facilities, public social services, planning, removal of architectural barriers to allow access by persons with disabilities, and downtown or area revitalization.
Applications can be submitted by individual communities or regionally by multiple communities with one lead community.
How to Apply
FY 2010 CDBG Application: This Application Guidance package explains how to apply to the Community Development Funds I and II, and Mini-Entitlement Program, including information on what to submit, deadlines, special eligibility standards, and the application review processes. The CDBG online application and grant management system can be accessed in the OnLine Business section. First-time users need to contact the CDBG staff at DHCD prior to using the online system. Applications are accepted once per year for an 18-month project cycle.
Funding Limits
Funding limits for all CDBG components are outlined in the FY 2010 One Year Plan.
FY 2010 Information
CDBG 2010 Application (CDBG Grant Management System)
Draft CDBG One Year Plan 
CDBG Application Guidance
- Appendix - A; Eligible CDBG Activities
- Appendix - B; HUD Low-Mod Data
- Appendix - C; HUD Survey Methodology
- Appendix - D + E; Elderly Income Statistics; Low-Mod Income Limits
- Appendix - F; Position Classification and Wage Schedule Guidelines
- Appendix - G; Primary Federal Regulations
- Appendix - H; List of Entitlement Communities
- Appendix - I; Public Facilities Projects - Phases of Design
- Appendix - J; Base Line Info Form for Slums and Blight Designation
- Appendix - K; Slums and Blight Property Data Form
CDBG FY10 Application Training Sessions
CDBG One Year Action Plan FY10 Proposed Changes
FY10 One Year Plan Info Sessions
CDBG FY10 CWN Scores & Eligibility 
Additional Program Information
Commercial Rehabilitation Guide
HUD Guidebook to State CDBG Programs
HUD Income Limit Area Definitions
Procurement of Services from CDCs
Conflict of Interest Informational Memo 
Procurement of a Social Services
Environmental Review
Statutory Checklist Guide
Environmental Assessment Checklist
Statutory Checklist
Additional Reference Material
Designing and Constructing Public Facilities
Chapter 30B Procurement Manual
Fiscal Reporting Forms