Community Development Block Grants

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is a federally funded U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program that is administered in New York State by the Governor's Office for Small Cities (GOSC). As set forth in the Federal Housing and Community Development Act, the primary objective of the CDBG program "is the development of viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income."

GOSC administers five main programs to implement that objective: The Economic Development Program; the Housing, Microenterprise, and Public Facilities Programs; the Technical Assistance Grants Program; the Grow New York Program; and the Section 109 Loan Guarantee Program. Each of the programs have different purposes, grant application deadlines and grant award limits. Although eligible applicants are towns, villages and cities under 50,000 people and counties under 200,000 people, local governments may use the funds to assist qualifying businesses and individuals who conform to program guidelines.