Annually, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides block grant funds to eligible states, counties, and municipalities using a formula allocation. Eligible entities receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds through the formula allocation are referred to as entitlement communities. Likewise, those entities that are eligible to receive HOME Investment Partnerships funds are designated as participating jurisdictions. Funds received by HUD must be used to promote one of HUD’s three statutory objectives of providing 1) Decent Housing, 2) Suitable Living Environment, or 3) Expanding Economic Opportunities.
The Community Services Division oversees the administration of all HUD funds. The division expects to receive a total of $2,015,422 in CDBG and HOME funds from HUD by October 1, 2021. The City expects to receive $106,750 in program income from payment of existing housing rehabilitation loans.
The City of Plano uses a consolidated grant process to allocate HUD funds and Buffington Community Service Grant (BCSG) funds. As mentioned previously, HUD funds come from the federal government. However, BCSG funds come from the general fund and currently receive a City Council allocation of $2 per capita. During April & May 2021, the CRC held five (5) grant presentation meetings to consider agency requests for 2021 CDBG and HOME funding provided to the City of Plano by HUD. On June 1, 2021, the Commission held a public hearing meeting to determine agency funding recommendations. Twenty-six (26) requests, in the amount of $1,364,864, were considered during the Consolidated Grant process. Four (4) requests were recommended by the Commission for CDBG and HOME funds, and seventeen (17) requests were recommended for Buffington Community Service Grant (BCSG) funds. The Commission approved these recommendations in a vote of 8-0-0.
Additional information on HUD grants and programs recommended for funding are described in Attachment A.