Show-Me State Times

The City of St. Louis - Community Development Administration (CDA) announced on Friday, August 2, the commencement of the 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Request for Proposals (RFP), with $5,119,304 available in funds. Proposals are due to CDA by September 6, 2024.

The CDBG program was established by Congress in 1974 through the Housing and Community Development Act. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s CDBG program aims to develop urban communities by funding affordable housing, improving neighborhood quality of life, and expanding economic opportunities primarily for low- and moderate-income individuals. The program operates on an annual funding cycle, with municipalities and local governments allocated funds each year to support various community development initiatives. These funds are administered locally by the City of St. Louis' CDA. The previous 2024 program year had $4,996,484 available.

A CDBG Financial Management Best Practices Webinar will be hosted at 10 am on Thursday, August 15, 2024.

CDA is currently developing its 2025 ‐ 2029 Consolidated Plan using a data-driven process that involves enhanced citizen participation. The following priorities for 2025 have been identified based on data from community-wide focus groups, a review of existing departmental plans, and federal CDBG statutes and regulations. All applications must meet one of HUD's three national objectives: benefit low- and moderate-income persons/households or prevent or eliminate slum or blight.

City of St. Louis Priorities / Eligible Activities:

High Priorities:

- Youth Services

- Relocation

- Drug Abuse Counseling & Treatment

- Health Services & Public Improvements

Other Priorities:

- Economic Development

- Affordable Housing: Rental & Homeowner Assistance, Production of New Units, Rehabilitation of Existing Units

- Planning

- Public Facilities

- Public Improvements & Infrastructure

- Administration

Targeted Areas: The Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas (NRSAs) proposed for HUD approval as part of the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan include:

North NRSA: Baden, North Pointe, Walnut Park West neighborhoods.

Northwest NRSA: Wells-Goodfellow, Hamilton Heights, Kingsway East, Kingsway West neighborhoods.

North Central NRSA: Greater Ville, Ville, Jeff Vanderlou,Vandeventer,Lewis Place,Fountain Park neighborhoods.

Choice NRSA: Near Northside Choice Neighborhood Footprint and Old North St.Louis and St.Louis Place neighborhoods.

These areas will receive enhanced flexibility and bonus points for projects benefiting residents within these designated NRSAs.

Commercial Facade Improvement Program Revamp:

The CDA is now administering the Commercial Facade Improvement Program which provides five-year forgivable loans to small business and commercial property owners to incentivize improvements in building exteriors and storefronts. Application instructions are included in the 2025 CDBG RFP document.

Application Process:

The CDA encourages both existing grantees and new applicants—including non-profits, neighborhood groups,and Community-Based Development Organizations (CBDOs)—to apply for funding.This annual cycle offers an opportunity for organizations to secure funding for projects aligning with CDBG goals.Interested organizations should visit www.stlouis-mo.gov/cda/cdbg to access the full RFP document,detailed instructions on eligibility,and application process.All proposals must be submitted through EGrAMS,CDA's electronic grants management system available at www.stlouis-mo.gov/cda/egrams/

Important Dates:

7/22/24: Funding Priorities Published

8/2/24: Issued CDBG Non-Housing Production RFP

8/2/24: Held Public Hearing and Hybrid RFP Overview

8/15/24: Virtual Capacity Building Training Best Practices

9/6/24: CDBG Proposals Due to CDA

10/11/24: Funding Recommendations Posted to CDA Website

10/11/24: Annual Action Plan Posted for Public Comment

10/11/24: Introduction of Board Bill

10/11/24: Board Bill Submitted to Mayor's Office for E&A Approval

Week of 10/15/24: HUDZ Committee Meeting No.1

Week of 10 /18 /24 : Board Of Aldermen Second Reading

Week Of -25 / Board Of Aldermen Perfected Reading

Week Of Final Reading

11 /7 /Public Hearing No .2(Funding Awards )

11 /Final Annual Action Plan Submitted To HUD

The public hearing recording is available on the CityofSt.Louis' YouTube channel .Organizations can also checktheNeighborhoodRevitalizationStrategyAreasmapfortargetedareas .

AbouttheCommunityDevelopmentAdministration :

TheCommunityDevelopmentAdministration(CDA)iscommittedtoenhancingthequalityoflifeinSt.Louiesthroughstrategicinvestmentsinhousing,economicdevelopment,andpublicservices.TheCDAworkstoensurethatallresidentshaveaccesstosafeaffordablehousingandopportunitiesforeconomicadvancement .

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