$2.5 Million CDBG Funding is Available for Low-and-Moderate Income Neighborhoods

DEADLINE to submit an application is near….

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is a major source of funding for the City of El Paso. CDBG is an annual formula grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) available for designated low-and-moderate income communities. Funded projects include parks, street and drainage improvements, public facilities, housing and social service programs. The CDBG program gives the community the flexibility to decide how to meet the needs of low-and-moderate income neighborhoods and persons.

It is estimated that the City of El Paso will have approximately $2.5 million for new projects in the 33rd CDBG Program Year, which begins September 1, 2007. The Department of Community and Human Development wants the assistance of the citizens of El Paso in determining how they can best serve the needs of their neighborhood and the community. Citizens can submit their proposals for their neighborhood using a Citizen Request Form. Neighborhood Associations may also submit their proposals using a Neighborhood Associations Request Form. Neighborhood Associations need to submit only one (1) form per association and the form must be signed by the President of the association - Failure to submit a signed form will result in the association's request(s) not being considered for funding.

Citizen Request and Neighborhood Association Forms are available at all City

Libraries
Police Stations
Parks and Recreation Centers
City Hall's 8th Floor - Department of Community and Human Development

Deadline to submit Citizen Request Forms and Neighborhood Association forms is on Friday, December 8, 2006 by 5:00 p.m.

All forms must be delivered or mailed to:

Department of Community and Human Development
#2 Civic Center Plaza, 8th Floor, El Paso, Texas 79901-1196
CDBG funds CAN be used for the following types of projects:

Neighborhood Centers

Parks and other Public Facilities

Street and Drainage Improvements

Street Lighting Improvements

Accessibility Improvements

CDBG Funds CANNOT be used for the following types of projects:

Projects requiring the Acquisition of land or property or Purchase of equipment

Resurfacing streets, Repairing pot holes, Paving alleys, Cleaning streets/alleys

To report litter, trash accumulation, weeds, etc., violations on private property

To report abandoned homes

Requesting more neighborhood police patrol

Repair railroad tracks

** Construction of new City Public Buildings will ONLY be considered if: The land is already owned by the City, the appropriate department(for instance Parks and Recreation, Library or Health Department) submits the formal application for the project, and the appropriate department will have operating funds available upon completion of the project. **

CDGB public improvement projects improve safety and living conditions for low-and-moderate income residents. This program also increases recreational opportunities and enhances neighborhood pride. Community and Human Development projects change the face of low-and-moderate income neighborhoods through rehabilitation, providing decent, safe and affordable housing and providing needed funding for social service programs for low-and-moderate income El Pasoans.