Objectives of Community Development

Local Objectives

  • Conservation and expansion of the city's existing housing stock
  • Provision or improvement of public facilities such as, but not limited to, streets, sidewalks, parks and recreation, and neighborhood facilities
  • Provide relocation assistance to families displaced due to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and other related activities
  • Refinement and implementation of the city's Comprehensive Plan, as well as the development of other plans targeted for neighborhood, inner city redevelopment, and affordable housing initiatives
  • Development and support of those facilities and services which meet the physical and other needs of the elderly, handicapped, and lower-income citizens of the city
  • Promotion and stimulation of neighborhood and inner city economic development
  • Continued enforcement and support of the principles of fair housing
  • Preservation of historically significant properties within the city
  • Revitalization of deteriorating neighborhoods; prevention and elimination of blighting influences; and conditions detrimental to health, safety, and public welfare, including but not limited to, acquisition, demolition, and site clearance activities

National Objectives

All eligible CDBG activities and programs must meet one of the three national objectives:

  • Benefit to low- and moderate-income families
  • Aid in the prevention or elimination of slum or blight
  • Meet an urgent need

In addition, a majority of the funds must be spent on activities that directly benefit low and moderate income persons (70% or greater). The city currently spends over 95% on activities that benefit low and moderate income persons.

Benefit to Low- / Moderate-Income Persons

For an activity to benefit low- / moderate-income persons, the activity must qualify as an area benefit or a direct benefit. An area benefit is an activity that benefits all persons in a particular area where at least 51% of the residents are low/moderate income. An example of an area benefit would be to pave a street in a low-income neighborhood.

A direct benefit is an activity that directly benefits individual low/moderate-income persons or households. An example of a direct benefit would be to rehabilitate a low-income homeowner's house. The city uses census statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in establishing income eligibility guidelines. Block group data is used to indicate areas where greater than 51% of the population is low and moderate income.

Prevention or Elimination of Slums or Blight

For an activity to qualify in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight, it must meet a definition of a slum, blighted, deteriorated, or deteriorating area under state or local law. Also, there must be a substantial number of deteriorating or dilapidated buildings in the area, as well as other needed physical improvements. The activity must meet the criteria of one of the three following categories:

  • Eliminate slum and blight on an area basis
  • Eliminate slum and blight on a spot basis
  • Be in an urban renewal area

Urgent Need

This category is designed only for activities that alleviate emergency conditions. Existing conditions, which are of recent origin, must pose a grave and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community. The recipient of CDBG funds must be unable to finance such an activity and confirm that other financial sources are not available to alleviate such needs.