Indiana: Community Development Block Grants Program

The Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) is seeking applications from eligible local units of government that would like to be considered for programs funded through the state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

Donor Name: Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs

State: Indiana

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 10/21/2022

Size of the Grant: $700,000

Grant Duration: 18 months

Details:

The goal of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) is to encourage communities with eligible populations to focus on long-term community development.

Competitive projects must demonstrate the following:

They meet the goal of the Federal Act;
The particular project addresses the long-term planning and development efforts of the community;
The funds granted will have a significant impact on the overall project;
The community has demonstrated a strong commitment to the project and its sustainability; and
The project is ready to proceed upon grant award and will be completed within 18 months after grant award.

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.

Types of Program

Wastewater / Drinking Water (WDW) Program: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) has established a maximum grant award according to the following matrix.
Stormwater Improvements Program: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) has established a maximum grant award of up to $600,000 for the Stormwater Improvements Program (SIP). If OCRA determines that a lesser amount is appropriate, it may be necessary to revise the project before it is submitted in final form
Public Facilities Program: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) has established a maximum grant award of $500,000 for all Public Facility projects. The maximum award is not intended to serve as a target figure for requests for grant assistance. OCRA will review the level of grant assistance requested and will consider the appropriateness of the project’s scope, the level of demonstrated need, and the financial resources of the applicant. If OCRA determines that a lesser amount is appropriate, it may be necessary to revise the project before it is submitted in final form.
Blight Clearance Program: The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) has established a maximum grant award of up to $500,000 for the Blight Clearance Program (BCP). If OCRA determines that a lesser amount is appropriate, it may be necessary to revise the project before itis submitted in final form.

Funding Information

Wastewater / Drinking Water (WDW) Program Maximum Grant Amounts
- Projects over $1 million in total project cost
  - User Rates (Over $50): $700,000
  - User Rates ($30 to $50): $600,000
  - User Rates (Under $30): $550,000
- Projects under $1 million in total project cost
  - User Rates (Over $50): $600,000
  - User Rates ($30 to $50): $550,000
  - User Rates (Under $30): $500,000
Stormwater Improvements Program: maximum grant award of up to $600,000
Public Facilities Program: maximum grant award of $500,000
Blight Clearance Program: maximum grant award of up to $500,000

Eligibility Criteria

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:
- benefit an area or limited clientele whose population is at least 51% low- and moderate-income
  - If an income survey is used, it must be started before the proposal due date
- aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight
If the applicant has previously received any CDBG funds through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs or the
Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA),the applicant must NOT have:
- any unresolved monitoring/audit findings;
- any overdue grant reports or closeout documents;
- for cities and towns: two (2) open CDBG Grants at the time of application;
- for counties: three (3) open CDBG Grants at the time of application; or
- an open CDBG Grant that has not received Release of Funds;
  - If a community has an open CDBG Grant, the community must have an executed construction contract and be under construction before the community may apply for an additional CDBG Grant. Grant Services must have received the Notice of Start of Construction to be considered “under construction” by the date the application is due.
Any CDBG Program Income collected from a previous CDBG grant must be obligated for a use that has been approved by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs before another CDBG application can be submitted. Program Income may be used as part of the local match for a CDBG application. Please contact the CDBG program staff for additional information regarding Program Income.
Local match must be provided by the applicant or a third-party. Otherlocal, 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. Minimum local match percentage requirementsfor each program are:
- 20% Wastewater Drinking Water (WDW)
- 10% Stormwater Improvement Program (SIP)
- 10% Public Facilities Program (PFP)
- 10% Blight Clearance Program
All requests to use in-kind match must be submitted by the pre-approval deadline of December15, 2022, via email to OCRA’s CDBG program staff. Eligible sources of the in-kind match include but are not limited to:
- The appraised fair market value of donated land. Land donations by applicants, developers, organizations or individuals with financial or ownership interest in the project are ineligible as an in-kind match;
- Volunteer laboris calculated at $15.00 per hour regardless of the type of work; and
- Donated goods or services are valued at cost. Requests must include:
- A summary of the request that shows a breakdown of how the amount was calculated;
- A letter from the chief elected official requesting the use of In-Kind match and identifying the amount requested;
- Supporting documentation, including a commitment letter from the donor regarding what is being donated and the value; and
- In the case of land donation, a copy of the fee appraisal (a review appraisal is not required) and all supporting URA documentation.
For those applicants who have open Planning Grants pertaining to the project, the community must have a final plan approved by OCRA before submission of a CDBG application for the project. Any issues with the plan must be resolved before submission of the application.
The cost per beneficiary ratio for the proposed project may not exceed $5,000 per beneficiary.