Olympia seeks proposals for 2024 Community Development Block Grant program

With $154,000 of federal funds available through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, Olympia seeks proposals from housing authorities, nonprofit organizations, or municipalities for community and economic development projects for Program Year 2024.

Olympia is a grantee of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) CDBG funds and receives them annually through a formula allocation.

The city is seeking sub-recipients to carry out community projects. Eligible activities that could receive CDBG funding include acquiring or selling real property, conducting code enforcement in deteriorating areas, and building, rehabilitating, or developing public amenities such as homeless shelters and parks.

The CDBG grants can also fund projects involving clearing and demolishing structures, rehabilitation of private homes and commercial buildings, and programs offering homeownership assistance targeted at low- and moderate-income individuals. The grants can also be used for interim assistance to address severe deterioration in specific areas.

The CDBG funds can also support economic development activities, including initiatives that provide microenterprise assistance through financial aid and technical services and projects that could generate public benefits like job creation through investment in buildings and equipment.

The grants also allow planning, administration, and capacity-building services for community-based development organizations (CBDOs). These cover efforts related to planning, management, and organization strengthening. 

The CDBG fund can grant CBDOs to conduct neighborhood revitalization, community economic development, and energy conservation projects.

Other types of eligible activities for CDBG funds are:

• Relocation payments and other assistance for permanently and temporarily relocated individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, where appropriate.
• Technical assistance for public or non-profit entities for capacity building.
• Assistance to higher education institutions with the capacity to carry out other eligible activities.

In the request for proposals (RFP) issued by the city on Monday, March 11, the city has outlined specific community development goals, prioritizing affordable housing, economic development, public facilities and improvements, social services, and land acquisition.

The city council indicated interest in utilizing the funding for affordable housing.

The RFP stated that activities funded by CDBG must align with national objectives, primarily benefitting low-income individuals, meaning that at least 51% of clients served must have a low or moderate income.

Low- and moderate-income is defined according to HUD guidelines for the Olympia-Tumwater Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The deadline for submissions of proposals is on April 5 at 5 p.m.

Applicants may read the city’s document or the RFP website for more details.