Bureau of Community Development

Contact

Phone: 908-527-4086
Fax: 908-527-4715
E-mail: commdevinfo@ucnj.org

NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILTY (NOFA)

The County of Union has been allocated $2.2 million in CDBG-CV funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding is to be spent to prepare for, respond to, or prevent COVID-19. Any project administered with these funds must also meet CDBG regulations and criteria. Funding is available in specific assistance categories for organizations to administer to residents impacted by COVID-19.

In making decisions for funding with this special CDBG-CV allocation, Union County will consider factors such as the eligibility, national objective and whether the project provides substantial community benefits to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Projects must serve a majority of low and moderate-income persons.

Projects must be ready to implement immediately. Eligible sub-recipients may use the funds for building improvements (public facilities); and public services that prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.

Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding. If you have any questions about the funding, required documents, or eligible projects, please contact Brandon Givens, Director, at 908-527-4462 or by email at bgivens@ucnj.org.

We encourage applicants only to apply to administer funds within their capacity.

Applications will be reviewed and scored for the applicant’s financial/accounting capacity and compliance, community need for the proposed project, overall project benefits, experience and HUD compliance.

CDBG-CV Application will open on Wednesday, January 18th at 9am and close on Friday, February 3rd at 5pm.

https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/UNIONCOUNTYNJ/participant

By request, translation services and documents, as well as alternative accessible document formats, are available to persons with varying language needs or disabilities.

For more information please visit: https://ucnj.org/department-of-economic-development/bureau-of-community-development/

Documents

Community Development Block Grant Revenue Sharing Committee Commissioner Liaison

What is the Community Development Block Grant Program?

The Community Development Block Grant program is a federal program that began operation in 1974, making it one of the longest running programs by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It is the principal federal program providing States and Local Governments grants to devise innovative and constructive approaches that improve the physical, economic, and social conditions within communities. These improvements primarily benefit persons of low and moderate income.

National Objectives

The primary National Objective of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is the “development of viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, particularly for persons of low and moderate incomes.” Section 102(a)(20) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 defines the term ‘low-and moderate income persons’ as families and individuals whose incomes are no more than 80 percent of the median income of the area involved (refer to page 10 of this manual for current HUD income limits). All project proposals submitted for funding through the CDBG Program must document the achievement of at least one of the following National Objectives:

  • Primarily benefit low and moderate income persons
  • Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight

Project Eligibility

There are a wide range of projects that may be eligible for funding through the use of CDBG funds, as long as the program meets the National Objectives as previously outlined. CDBG funds may NOT be used for activities which do not meet these broad national objectives.

  • Projects that can be undertaken with CDBG funds include but are not limited to:
  • Relocation and demolition
  • Rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures
  • Rehabilitation of public facilities and improvements, such as water and sewer facilities, streets, neighborhood centers, and the conversion of school buildings for eligible purposes
  • Public services (within certain limits)
  • Activities relating to energy conservation and renewable energy resources
  • Provision of assistance to profit-motivated businesses to carry out economic development and job creation/retention activities

Generally, the following types of activities are ineligible:

  • Acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of buildings for the general conduct of government
  • Political activities
  • Certain income payments
  • Construction of new housing by units of general local government
  • Removal of architectural barriers in school buildings
  • Environmental and health hazard clean-up associated with a project site except for lead based paint
  • Payment of rent, utilities, or maintenance in a municipality owned facility