2013 NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WEEK

Last Updated: April 1, 2013

Community Development Week is April 1 - 7, 2013

CDBG Graphic

During 2013, communities across the nation are marking the 39th anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program the week of April 1-7, 2013. The purpose of this week long celebration is to recognize the positive outcomes from the CDBG Program.

Originally enacted into law in 1974, the CDBG Program remains the premier development tool for states, cities and towns to aid in neighborhood stabilization, community revitalization, and economic development and for addressing the myriad of other critical needs of lower income Americans. It is administered nationally by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The City of Longmont receives federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds totaling about $530,000 annually. Since 1984 Longmont has received CDBG funding which has had a significant impact on our local economy not only through the $13.6 million in grant funding and $1.7 million in program income received and invested in our community, but also through job creation and job retention, an improved local tax base, the physical redevelopment of our infrastructure and housing stock, the reinvestment in our neighborhoods, the improvement of the lives of our lower income residents, and the development of a strong network of partnerships with the many non-profit agencies that provide services to our residents.

The City of Longmont appreciates the flexibility of the CDBG Program that allows our community to identify, prioritize and resolve our most pressing local problems such as job creation and economic development, neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing.

From FY1984 - 2012 the City has received $13,665,139 and has used an aggregate of 95% of its funds to benefit low and moderate income persons, the primary national objective.

Well over $68.6 million in other public or private funding has been leveraged by the CDBG program over the years increasing both funding available for projects and the investment in our lower income residents and neighborhoods.

Longmont has used its CDBG funds to provide both new housing units and to rehabilitate existing owner-occupied and rental housing units for its residents keeping its existing affordable housing stock in good condition.

CDBG funds have directly assisted 12 businesses to start up or grow their businesses through low interest loans, creating 13 FT and 10 PT jobs to date. CDBG funds were awarded to over 40 construction and local supply businesses in 2012, keeping 135 local workers employed.

CDBG funds are also being used to supplement and support the city’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program by funding neighbor-identified projects that clean-up the neighborhoods, improve the parks, document the historic character, fight crime through improved lighting and other safety measures, and promote neighbor involvement.

In order to focus attention on and to highlight some of the accomplishments of Longmont’s CDBG Program, staff would like to invite City Council, other City staff and all residents of Longmont to celebrate the Community Development Block Grant Program.

City staff will showcase a series of projects focusing on home ownership, housing rehab, foreclosure prevention, and low-income housing developments at the Civic Center, Senior Center and Public Library the week of April 1-7, 2013. For more information, please contact Tracy DeFrancesco at 303-774-4445 or tracy.defrancesco@ci.longmont.co.us

Summary of 2012 Accomplishments