Grants to Alaska Municipalities to Enhance the Quality of Life for Low and Moderate-Income Residents

Alaska Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)

Agency

State

GrantWatch ID#

176077

Funding Source

Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED) - Division of Community and Regional Affairs

Geographic Focus

USA: Alaska: Statewide, excluding the Municipality of Anchorage

Important Dates

Deadline: 12/01/23 4:30 PM Receipt

Grant Description

Grants to Alaska municipal governments for projects that enhance the quality of life for low and moderate-income residents. Applicants must contact program staff and complete required registrations prior to applying. Funding is intended to support public facilities and planning programs that promote community self-sufficiency, reduce the costs of essential services, and address the health and safety needs of local residents. The program may also fund Special Economic Development activities that result in the creation of jobs for low and moderate-income persons. All municipalities, excluding Anchorage, may apply.

The overall mission of the State of Alaska CDBG Program is to enhance the quality of life for low and moderate-income residents, particularly in rural Alaska.

The following objectives guide the distribution and use of funds:

Potential for long-term positive impact and increase in community self-sufficiency
Reduction of clear and imminent threats and conditions detrimental to the health and safety of local residents
Construction and improvement of public facilities and the reduction of maintenance and operation costs
Development and use of design, engineering, architectural, or feasibility plans as appropriate
Economic development—including business development, job creation, and planning
Evidence of strong local support, i.e., inclusion in a local community, economic, or capital improvement plan
Use of local resources in combination with CDBG funding

The State of Alaska CDBG Program may be used to fund projects in three categories: Community Development, Planning, and Special Economic Development.

Community Development grant funds may be used for public facilities, transportation improvements, access to public facilities and structures, real property, and fire protection facilities and equipment. For additional information about this funding category, see: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/4/pub/CDBG/CDBG%20FFY2023/FFY%202023%20CDBG%20Application%20Handbook%20Instructions.pdf#page=8

Planning Grants may be used for:

Data Collection
Analysis
Plan Preparation
Marketing Studies
Feasibility Studies
Community Economic Development Plans
Community Land Use Plans
Capital Improvement Plans
Plan Updates

“Special Economic Development,” as used in the CDBG Program, must meet the criteria found at: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/4/pub/CDBG/CDBG%20FFY2023/FFY%202023%20CDBG%20Application%20Handbook%20Instructions.pdf#page=9

Applicants applying under the Special Economic Development Projects category must document in their application that the project provides a public benefit using the following criteria:

Creates or retains at least one full-time equivalent permanent job per no more than $50,000 of CDBG funding used; or
Provides goods or services to residents of an area in which the number of low- and moderate-income persons served equals no more than $1,000 of CDBG funds used per resident.

Recipient

Additional Eligibility Criteria

Eligible CDBG applicants are: Any municipal government entity as defined by Title 29 of the Alaska Statutes, i.e., home rule, first, second, and third class boroughs, unified municipalities, and first and second class cities, which exercise powers consistent with the proposed project, except the Municipality of Anchorage.

An eligible applicant, as defined above, may submit a CDBG application in cooperation with a non-municipal entity such as a Native Village Council or a non-profit corporation organized under Alaska Statute (AS) 10.20, which is in good standing with the State of Alaska. The proposed project must principally benefit low and moderate-income residents of the municipal government entity. A Cooperative Agreement is required between all parties.

Two or more eligible applicants, as defined above, may submit a joint CDBG application if they have identified a mutual need which may be addressed more appropriately together rather than individually. A Joint Application Agreement would be required between all parties.

Ineligible

Under no circumstances will CDBG funds be used to fund projects that include any of the following activities:
1. General promotion of the community as a whole (as opposed to the promotion of specific areas and programs)
2. Assistance to professional sports teams
3. Assistance to privately-owned recreational facilities serving predominantly higher-income clientele, where the benefit to members clearly outweighs employment or other benefits to low- and moderate-income persons
4. Acquisition of land for which the specific proposed use has not been identified
5. Assistance to a for-profit business while that business or any other business owned by the same individual or entity has unresolved findings or noncompliance related to previous CDBG funding

The following activities are not eligible for CDBG funding:
- Equipment: The purchase or repair of motor vehicles, equipment (including computer equipment), personal property, or furnishings not permanently attached to a building, except when such vehicles or equipment are utilized for fire protection.
- Government Buildings: Government buildings such as courthouses, city halls, borough administrative buildings, city offices and other buildings used for the general conduct of government, except for the removal of architectural barriers.
- Regular Government Operations: The ongoing responsibilities of general local government.
- Maintenance and Operation: Operation and maintenance expenses of public or community facilities.
- Political Activities: Use of facilities or equipment for political purposes or to engage in other partisan political activities.

For additional funding limitations, see:
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/4/pub/CDBG/CDBG%20FFY2023/FFY%202023%20CDBG%20Application%20Handbook%20Instructions.pdf#page=11

Pre-Proposal Conference

FFY 2023 CDBG Application Workshops: In person and via Zoom

Anchorage in-person training October 10-11 and October 24-25, 2023

Zoom training October 19, 2023

Interested applicants should fill out the CDBG Application Training Sign-up form, in Supporting Documents, below, and email to Matt Ford or fax to the number, below.

Pre-Application Information

Timeline:
- Grant Application Letter Distributed to Eligible Applicants: August 30, 2023
- If the Borough’s/City’s project is known, please complete this Notice of Intent to Submit a FFY 23 CDBG Application form by October 20, 2023. This form is not required to be submitted however helps CDBG Program Staff to determine the project eligibility.
- Completed Applications Due to DCCED Fairbanks Office: no later than 4:30 p.m., December 1, 2023.
- Award Announcement: February 2024

Applicants who received CDBG funding for project design, engineering, feasibility, and/or planning within two years may receive priority consideration if adequate funding is both available and documented to complete the project.

Each applicant must hold at least two public hearings. The first shall be held within six months prior to the original acceptance date of the application, with the purpose of reviewing the community’s development and housing needs; accepting proposals, citizen views, and comments on the proposed project; and electing to seek CDBG funding for the chosen project. Each applicant is required to provide citizens with an overview of the types of project that can be funded with the CDBG program and the amount of funding available.
- A second public hearing must be held during the term of the project to review program performance. Additional public hearings may be required in the event of a substantial change in purpose, scope, location or beneficiaries of the project. You must provide documentation of all public hearings related to the CDBG activity in the form of meeting minutes submitted to the State.

All applicants (including co-applicants) are required to register and have an active Unique Entity ID (UEI) number with https://sam.gov/content/ at the time of application. Applicants and co-applicants must include a printout from https://sam.gov/content/home proving active status.

Each applicant is expected to consult with CDBG Program staff about project eligibility and structure prior to submission of an application. It is important that applications be submitted under the appropriate category.

Each applicant for CDBG funds will be required to provide some matching funds if the application is to receive the maximum points available in project review. Ideally, a minimum 25% match will be provided from other sources.

For additional relevant links, see the Full Grant Text RFP link.

Additional Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$2,500,000

Estimated Size of Grant

An applicant may apply for a maximum of $850,000 in grant funds.

Contact Information

Completed application packets must be received in the Fairbanks office:

State of Alaska, DCCED
455 3rd Avenue, Suite 140
Fairbanks, AK 99701-4737

Community Development Block Grant Program Staff:
Pauletta Bourne
Division of Community and Regional Affairs
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
Location: Fairbanks
P: (907) 451-2721
F: (907) 451-2742
Pauletta.Bourne@alaska.gov

Lee Lemay at (907) 451-2717
lee.lemay@alaska.gov

Matt Ford at (907) 451-2716
matt.ford@alaska.gov
Fax: (907) 451-2742

Grants to Alaska Municipalities to Enhance the Quality of Life for Low and Moderate-Income Residents

Alaska Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)

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