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Grants to Indiana Local Agencies for Projects that Benefit Rural Communities in Eligible Regions

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) - Planning Grants


Grant Writers
Agency
State
GrantWatch ID#
169249
Funding Source
Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA)
Array ( )
Geographic Focus
USA: Indiana: Non-entitlement Communities
Important Dates
LOI Date: 10/20/23
Deadline: 12/22/23 11:59 PM ET Save
Grant Description
Grants to Indiana local government agencies for neighborhood improvement projects that benefit low- and moderate-income residents in eligible regions. Applicants must submit a proposal for review before being invited to submit a full application. Applicants must also submit income surveys and hold two public hearings prior to applying. Funding is intended to help communities improve quality of life and to ensure the health and safety of their residents. In turn, this enhances their ability to create places where citizens can grow, thrive, and prosper. Eligible areas are non-entitlement communities.

Eligible Activities:

OCRA utilizes CDBG funding for a variety of programs. The following four (4) programs are eligible for funding this round:

  1. Wastewater & Drinking Water (WDW)
  2. Stormwater Improvements Program (SIP)
  3. Public Facilities Program (PFP)
  4. Blight Clearance Program (BCP)

For all programs, the following general activities are eligible for CDBG funding. This list is not meant to include or exclude any particular project.

  • Property Acquisition
    • Surveying and appraisal costs
    • Legal costs related to the acquisition
    • Actual purchase costs of land or easement provided URA is followed, and the property is not purchased before release of funds.
  • Administration
    • Reasonable and eligible costs associated with the administration of the proposed project (Maximum of 8% of the grant, if paid with CDBG.)
  • Environmental Review
    • Costs related to obtaining the necessary review of the proposed project. 

For more information about eligible activities, see: https://www.in.gov/ocra/cdbg/files/2023-Round-2-Instructions_Final.pdf#page=3
Full Grant Text RFP
Recipient
Additional Eligibility Criteria
Eligible local units of government are counties, cities, or incorporated towns not located within an entitlement community. Unincorporated areas must apply through the county in which they are located.

To be eligible for CDBG assistance projects must meet the following minimum requirements:
- The lead applicant must be a non-entitlement city, county, or incorporated town that possesses the legal capacity to carry out the proposed program.
- The lead applicant may contract with a not-for-profit organization to carry out the activities of an eligible project, provided that the organization can document its nonprofit status with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the Indiana Department of Revenue, and the Indiana Secretary of State.
- The proposed project must meet a national objective and be an eligible activity under Section 105 (a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. In general, the project must either:
(i) Benefit an area or limited clientele whose population is at least 51% low- and moderate-income
(ii) Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight.

For additional eligibility information, see: https://www.in.gov/ocra/cdbg/files/2023-Round-2-Instructions_Final.pdf#page=2

Additional Geographic Information:

A map of community liaison districts can be found at https://www.in.gov/ocra/newsroom/community-liaisons/
Ineligible
The following is a list of some activities that are not eligible for CDBG funding:
• The acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of buildings for the general conduct of government;
• Real property acquisition for ineligible activities;
• General equipment purchase;
• Purchase of items that are living (plants, trees, sod, animals, etc.);
• Operation and maintenance expenses associated with public facilities or services;
• General government expenses;
• Political activities of any nature; or
• The direct construction of new housing. Projects Combining Eligible and Ineligible Activities

Depending on a community’s needs, it may be appropriate for a project to combine CDBG eligible and ineligible activities. Such a project may still be eligible for CDBG funds, provided:
• that the budget clearly delineates the costs of the eligible and ineligible activities;
• that CDBG funds will not pay for any ineligible activities; and
• that local funds comprise at least the minimum percentage required local match portion of the project.
Pre-Application Information
Timeline:
- 2023 Round 2 proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.
- All completed income survey documentation for this round should be submitted for final approval in eGMS by December 8th, 2023, to ensure OCRA has the full 10 business days to complete its review.
- 2023 Round 2 applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023
- Awards will be announced in late February 2024, through a press release. Grant Services will contact each community after the announcement to start the next steps in the granting process. Applications that are not funded will be contacted by their Community Liaison to schedule a feedback meeting.

Communities are encouraged to submit their applications prior to 4 p.m. ET on the due dates, as technical assistance will not be available after that time.

Two public hearings must be held at different stages of project development. One public hearing must be held before submission of the proposal, and the second must be held before the submission of the full application. Note: New public hearings must be held for each grant round, regardless of prior application(s).

A local match must be provided by the applicant or a third-party. Other local, state, or non-HUD federal grants can count toward the local match requirement. The local match is a percentage of the total project cost, not the grant amount being requested

FAQ: https://www.in.gov/ocra/cdbg/gms-faq/

Resources: https://www.in.gov/ocra/cdbg/cdbg-resources/

Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svnyyaltty4
Estimated Size of Grant
Wastewater and Drinking Water Maximum Grant Amounts:
- Projects over $1 million in total project cost: $550,000-$700,000
- Projects under $1 million in total project cost: $500,000-$600,000

For more information on grant amounts, see:
https://www.in.gov/ocra/cdbg/files/2023-Round-2-Instructions_Final.pdf#page=6
Term of Contract
The project must be ready to proceed upon grant award and be completed within 18 months after the grant award.
Contact Information
Apply online: https://in-lg.my.site.com/Grants/s/login/?ec=302&startURL=%2FGrants%2Fs%2F

For any questions regarding Planning Grants, please contact CDBG@ocra.in.gov.
General questions should be directed to the community liaisons. See the map of districts and liaison contact information link in the Additional Geographic Information field.

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs
CDBG Program
One North Capitol, Suite 600
Indianapolis, IN 46204
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