Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

The Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant Program is a federally funded, competitive grant program designed to help cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs.

There are two primary Massachusetts CDBG funding programs, the Community Development Fund (CDF) and the Mini-Entitlement Program (ME) Program. The Community Development Fund (CDF) is a competitive program and awards grants to eligible communities throughout the Commonwealth, helping cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs in housing, infrastructure, revitalization, economic development and public social services. Municipalities selected for the Mini-Entitlement Program (ME) Program are determined by using a formula calculation based on high statistical indicators of need, poverty rate and population size. Each program has specific eligibility requirements and application procedures, which are described in more detail below.

Eligible Applicants

There are 351 municipalities incorporated in Massachusetts. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has designated 37 of these municipalities as CDBG Entitlement Communities; in general, these communities exceed 50,000 in population and receive CDBG funds directly from HUD. The Community Development Fund (CDF) is available to all municipalities that are not Entitlement Communities as identified by HUD or as Mini-Entitlement (ME) communities as identified by EOHLC.

Eligible Activities

Appendix A: HCDA Eligible Activities for States

Eligible CDBG projects include but are not limited to housing rehabilitation or development, micro-enterprise or other business assistance, infrastructure, planning, public facilities, public social services, removal of architectural barriers.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online through the CDBG Application link. The deadline for applications is April 14, 2025 @ 3:00 pm. Information about program requirements may be found in the FFY 2025 One Year Plan and Final Proposed Changes Memo below.

FFY 2025 Information

CDBG Online Application

Brief Guide to 2025 CDBG RFP Online System

FFY 2025 Application Training PPT

FFY 2025 Application LMI Scores/HUD LMI%

FFY 2025 Application Guidance/Appendixes

Appendix A Eligible Community Development Block Grant Activities
Appendix B HUD Low-Mod Data 2016 - 2020 ACS
Appendix C CDBG Income Survey Toolkit
Appendix D Low-and Moderate-Income Limits
Appendix E Green/Sustainable Space Building Guidance
Appendix F Position Classification and Wage Schedule Guide
Appendix G Primary Federal Regulations
Appendix H List of Entitlement Communities in Massachusetts
Appendix I Public Facilities Project Phases of Design
Appendix J Base-line Information Form for CDBG Activities to Prevent or Eliminate Conditions of Slums or Blight: Area Basis 
Appendix K Slum and Blight Area Inventory Sheet

FFY 2025 BABA Documentation Form

FFY 2025 CDBG Application Training Notice

FFY 2025 Draft One Year Action Plan

FFY 2025 Proposed Changes Public Information Session Notice

FFY2025 Proposed Changes Memo

FFY2025 Final Proposed Changes Memo

FFY 2024 Information

FFY24 CDBG Start-up Training PowerPoint (Program)

FFY24 CDBG Start-up Training PowerPoint (Fiscal)

FFY 2024 Draft CDBG One Year Action Plan

FFY 2024 Proposed Changes Public Information Session Notice

FFY 2024 Proposed Changes Memo

Avoiding Special Conditions – FFY24 CDBG Application

FFY24 Application - CEO - Signatory Information

Application Technical Assistance Guides

Housing Rehabilitation

Infrastructure & Public Facilities

Public Social Services

Architectural Barrier Removal

Useful Guides and Resources

CDBG Welcome Guide

Grant Start-Up Webinars

HUD Guidebook to State CDBG Programs

HUD Income Limits

HUD Income Limit Area Definitions

Lead Based Paint Compliance

Procurement of Services from CDCs

Procurement of a Social Services

Guide to Housing Rehabilitation EOHLC Training

HR Best Practices - Inspections and Construction Phase

HR Setting Up for Success

Environmental Review

Environmental Review Training Video (2022)

Chapter 10 Environmental Review

Statutory Checklist Guide

Environmental Assessment Checklist

Statutory Checklist

58.6 Review

7015.15 - Training Example

Radon and Environmental Review Requirements and Procedures Flowchart

Scientific Data Review Method - Documenting for ERR

EOHLC Radon and Environmental Review Requirements and Procedures Guide

Section 3 Information

Section 3 EOHLC Guidance

Section 3 Reporting Template

Section 3 Guidebook: Welcome - HUD Exchange

Grant Management & Procedures

Chapter 3 Grant Management

Chapter 11 Financial Management

Chapter 20 Housing Rehabilitation

Fiscal Monitoring Checklist

GMS CGMM Training

Grantee Close Out Procedures

Performance Measures Memo

Program Monitoring Packet

QPRs, Extensions, Amendments

Conflict of Interest Informational Memo

Model Forms

Budget and Program Revision Forms

CDBG Professional Services Contract FFY24

Lead Requirements Worksheet

LMI Area-Wide – Block Group Information Documentation Form

Single Case Waiver Instructions/Form

Additional Reference Material

Designing/Constructing Public Facilities

Chapter 30B Procurement Manual

Community Engagement Resources

Community Engagement Assessment Focus Areas

Community Engagement Assessment Response Summary

Narrative Resource Library

Community Engagement Resource Library