Community Development Block Grant Program

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program was created by Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The primary statutory objective of the program is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low- and moderate-income. This general objective is achieved by concentrating on activities which benefit low- and moderate-income families. The program can also aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight, and under unique circumstances, the State may also use its funds to meet urgent community development needs. A need is considered urgent if it poses a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community and has arisen in the past 18 months.

The Department of Commerce manages five CDBG Programs:

1. Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program

2. Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus (CV)

3. Office of Long-Term Resiliency

4. Recovery Housing Program

5. Neighborhood Stabilization Program

Florida Small Cities CDBG Program

The Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program is a competitive grant program that awards funds to eligible cities, counties, towns and villages. There are approximately 249 eligible communities in Florida. To be eligible for the Small Cities CDBG Program, a city must have a population under 50,000, and a county's population must be under 200,000. The Program awards subgrants in four categories:

• Economic Development

• Neighborhood Revitalization

• Housing Rehabilitation, and

• Commercial Revitalization.

For more information, visit the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program web page.

Community Development Block Grant - CV

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act has appropriated $5 billion in CDBG funding nationwide to assist low-income families and the nation's most vulnerable citizens. Additional guidance and an allocation of funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide more insight on how CDBG-CV funds may be able to help Florida's local governments respond to COVID-19 and the economic impacts it has caused.

For more information, visit the Community Development Block Grant - CV web page.

Office of Long-Term Resiliency

Congress may appropriate funding for the CDBG program to rebuild communities designated by the President of the United States as disaster areas. Disaster recovery assistance may fund a broad range of recovery activities, including housing rehabilitation, economic development, infrastructure repairs and work designed to prevent future damage to the affected areas. The CDBG Disaster Recovery funds cannot be used for activities that would duplicate funding available from other agencies for the same purpose.

For more information, visit the Office of Long-Term Resiliency web page.

Recovery Housing Program

The Recovery Housing Program was established for the purpose of providing stable, transitional housing for individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder. The Florida Department of Commerce has identified a specific need for additional recovery housing and services for the veterans community within the state. The program received funds in Federal Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021 to distribute to eligible subrecipients including public and private nonprofit organizations and local governments that have proven experience in providing services to veterans in recovery.

For more information, visit the Recovery Housing Program web page.

Neighborhood Stabilization Program

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program was established for the purpose of stabilizing communities that have suffered from foreclosures and abandonment. The program received funds in 2008 and 2010 to distribute to targeted communities. Through the purchase and redevelopment of foreclosed and abandoned homes and residential properties, the goal of the program is being realized.

For more information, visit the Neighborhood Stabilization Program web page.

Mailing Address

Florida CDBG Program
Department of Commerce
107 East Madison Street, MSC-400
Tallahassee, Florida  32399-6508