2027 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) RFP

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program was established by Congress in 1974 with
passage of the Housing and Community Development Act and is administered by the United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This program provides funds to municipalities
and other units of government around the country to develop viable urban communities. This is
accomplished by providing affordable, decent housing, a suitable living environment and by expanding
economic opportunities principally for low- and moderate-income persons. Although local units of
government develop their own programs and funding priorities, all activities must be consistent with
one or more of the following HUD national objectives:
Principally benefits low- and moderate-income persons
Prevents or eliminates slums or blight
Addresses an urgent need or problem in the community (e.g., natural disaster)
As an entitlement community under the CDBG program, the City of St. Louis receives
annual funding allocations from the federal government to fund activities to address these
national objectives.
As a funding recipient, the City of St. Louis is required to submit to HUD an Annual Action Plan that
describes how the City will utilize federal funds to address the national objectives in a manner that will
produce the greatest measurable impact on our community. The City's lead agency responsible for
submission of this Plan to HUD is the Community Development Administration (CDA).
The statutes for the federal formula grant programs set forth three basic goals against which the
plan and the City's performance under the plan will be evaluated by HUD. The City must state how
it will pursue these goals for all community development programs.
HUD STATUTORY PROGRAM GOALS:
1. DECENT HOUSING -including:
o Assisting homeless persons to obtain affordable housing;
o Assisting persons at risk of becoming homeless;
o Retaining the affordable housing stock;
o Increasing the availability of affordable permanent housing in standard
condition to low-income and moderate-income families, particularly to
members of disadvantaged minorities without discrimination on the
basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or
disability;
o Increasing the supply of supportive housing which includes structural features
and services to enable persons with special needs (including persons with
HIV/AIDS) to live in dignity and independence; and
o Providing affordable housing that is accessible to job opportunities.
2. SUITABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENT - including:
o Improving the safety and livability of neighborhoods;
o Eliminating blighting influences and the deterioration of property and facilities;
o Increasing access to quality public and private facilities and services;
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o Reducing the isolation of income groups within areas through spatial
de-concentration of housing opportunities for lower income persons and the
revitalization of deteriorating neighborhoods;
o Restoring and preserving properties of special historic, architectural, or aesthetic value; and
o Conserving energy resources and use of renewable energy sources.
3. EXPANDED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES - including:
o Job creation and retention;
o Establishment, stabilization and expansion of small businesses (including
micro-businesses);
o The provision of public services concerned with employment;
o The provision of jobs to low-income persons living in areas affected by those
programs and activities, or jobs resulting from carrying out activities under
programs covered by the plan;
o Availability of mortgage financing for low-income persons at reasonable rates
using non- discriminatory lending practices;
o Access to capital and credit for development activities that promote the
long-term economic and social viability of the community; and
o Empowerment and self-sufficiency for low-income persons to reduce
generational poverty in federally assisted housing and public housing.
Long-term outcomes linked to these goals are:
* Availability/Accessibility - This outcome relates to programs that make
services, housing, infrastructure, public services, or shelter accessible or
available to low- or moderate- income persons, including those with special
needs and/or disabilities.
* Affordability - This outcome relates to programs that provide affordability to
low- or moderate-income persons and can include affordable housing.
* Sustainability - This outcome relates to programs that improve communities
and promote viability, such as removing slums and blight, or other services
that sustain communities.
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Federal regulations require that activities funded with CDBG must meet one of HUD's three national
objectives:
1. Benefit low- and moderate-income (LMI) persons/households (at or below 80% of
median family income for the City, as defined by HUD; 70% of the City's annual
expenditures must be for LMI activities)
a. Limited Clientele Benefit - activity benefits LMI individuals (at least
51% of beneficiaries must be LMI)
i. Certain categories of limited clientele are presumed to be LMI
beneficiaries under CDBG regulations. Reference 570.208(a)(2)(i)(A)
1. Elderly
2. Severely disabled adults
3. Abused children
4. Battered spouses
5. Illiterate adults
6. Persons with AIDS
7. Migrant farm workers
b. Housing Benefit - activity carried out for the purpose of providing or
improving permanent residential structures which, upon completion, will
be occupied by low- and moderate- income households
i. 100% of single-family units must be occupied by households
at or below 80% of median family income;
ii. 51% of multi-family units must be occupied by households
at or below 80% of median family income. Reference
570.208(a)(3)
c. Job Creation/Retention Benefit - activity creates or retains jobs of which at
least 51% must be taken by or made available to LMI persons. Reference
570.208(a)(4)
d. Low- and Moderate-Income Area Benefit - activity will be available to or benefit
all residents in an area that is primarily residential and is located in a census
tract where 51% or more of the population is low-moderate income. (not
applicable to housing activities) Reference570.208(a)(1)
2. Prevent or Eliminate Slum or Blight
a. Area basis (eligible areas are determined by local ordinance) Reference 570.208(b)(1)
b. Spot basis (specific properties are determined by local ordinance)
Reference 570.208(b)(2)
3. Meet a community urgent need (typically natural disasters) Reference 570.208(c)
o This national objective is not applicable for this application.
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CITY OF ST. LOUIS 2027 FUNDING PRIORITIES / ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES
2027 embarks on the second year of the 2025 - 2029 Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Plan process is data
driven and involves enhanced citizen participation. The following 2027 priorities have been identified from
utilizing data from the 2025 - 2029 Consolidated Plan community wide focus groups, a review of existing and
active departmental plans, and federal CDBG statutes and regulations. All applications must still meet one of
HUD's three national objectives and be an eligible activity.
HIGH PRIORITIES
AFFORDABLE HOUSING: RENTAL AND HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE,
PRODUCTION OF NEW UNITS, AND REHABILITATION OF EXISTING
UNITS
o The primary goal associated with this housing priority is to improve the
affordability of decent housing through direct housing-related services
and/or the production and rehabilitation of housing units throughout the
City of St. Louis.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
o The primary goals associated with economic development initiatives include the
following: job creation/retention for low- and moderate-income persons, providing
assistance/incentives for accessibility, retaining and attracting for-profit, retail businesses
and micro-enterprises to the City, and encouraging historic preservation and
rehabilitation of business properties.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
o The primary goal associated with public improvements and infrastructure is
to build or enhance public capital improvements and infrastructure to
better serve the diverse needs of residents of the City of St. Louis.
PRIORITIES
ADMINISTRATION:
o The primary goal associated with the administration priority is to
provide resources needed to plan and administer the CDBG program,
including providing program management, monitoring and
evaluation.
DRUG ABUSE COUNSELING & TREATMENT
o The primary goal associated with drug abuse counseling and treatment is to
support evidence-based recovery programs and substance abuse
prevention/education activities in order to support our city's most vulnerable
residents. This emerged as a top community priority through our 2025-2029
Consolidated Planning process.
HEALTH SERVICES & PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
o The primary goal associated with this category is to fund, subsidize or incentivize
neighborhood health essentials ranging from pharmaceutical and clinical services to
urgent care, as well as investments into community driven food production,
processing and distribution. This program is intended to fund evidence-based
programs or community driven development designed to ameliorate food and
health deserts and provide marginalized communities with access to quality
affordable food and healthcare
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HOMELESSNESS: EMERGENCY SHELTER, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING,
RAPID RE-HOUSING, AND PREVENTION
o The primary goal associated with this homelessness priority is to
provide homelessness prevention services and to improve the
quality and/or quantity of shelters and housing.
HOMELESSNESS: OUTREACH
o The primary goal associated with this homelessness priority is to
provide outreach to the homeless population of the City of St. Louis
PLANNING
o The primary goal associated with the planning priority is to provide the
resources needed to implement planning activities for low- and
moderate-income areas.
PUBLIC FACILITIES
o The primary goal associated with public facilities is to build or enhance
public facilities to better serve the diverse needs of residents of the City
of St. Louis.
RELOCATION
o The primary goals associated with relocation include payments and other
assistance for temporary relocation to persons (individuals, families, businesses,
non-profit organizations) that are displaced by a natural disaster, or permanently
and involuntarily as a direct result of rehabilitation, demolition, or acquisition for
an activity assisted under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property
Acquisition Policies Act of 1970.
YOUTH SERVICES
o The primary goal associated with youth services is to support low to moderate income
families and children by expanding access to childcare and healthcare, including
maternity care; afterschool and recreational programs; food and transit support; youth
jobs and workforce development; and reentry services and substance abuse resources.
These upstream investments into the city's children yield long run returns in the form
of improved high school graduation rates, increased employment and wages, reduced
crime, and better health outcomes.
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The Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas (NRSAs), pictured below, offer bonus points to those who
apply in this 2027 RFP for NRSAs.
I. Choice NRSA - Coincides with established Near Northside Choice Neighborhood
Footprint and Old North St. Louis and St. Louis Place neighborhoods; Located within the
City's Promise Zone and the Near Northside Choice Neighborhoods; Approximately 80%
LMI in Old North and St. Louis Place neighborhoods.
II. Martin Luther King Blvd NRSA - The first proposed NRSA is a strategy area located in a
St. Louis Promise Zone and includes the following neighborhoods: Hamilton Heights,
Wells-Goodfellow, Kingsway West and Kingsway East neighborhoods, Fountain Park,
Lewis Place, Vandeventer, The Ville, Greater Ville, and Jeff Vanderlou neighborhoods
III. North NRSA - The second proposed NRSA is a city strategy area and includes the
following neighborhoods: Walnut Park East, Walnut Park West, Mark Twain, North Pointe,
North Riverfront, Near North Riverfront, Riverview, and Baden Neighborhoods
IV. Penrose-O'Fallon-College Hill NRSA- The third proposed NRSA is a city strategy area and
includes the following neighborhoods: Penrose, O'Fallon, College Hill, Fairground, and
Hyde Park
V. Southeast NRSA - The fourth proposed NRSA is a city strategy area and includes the
following neighborhoods: Bevo Mill, Dutchtown, Gravois Park and Mount Pleasant
Neighborhoods.
Qualified Communities with approved NRSAs are offered the following types of enhanced flexibility:
JOB CREATION or retention efforts focused on the selected NRSA may be
classified as meeting the LMI area benefit national objective requirements.
o Businesses that receive assistance need not track the specific income of newly
hired employees to demonstrate LMI benefit.
o Reduces the administrative burden to the business and is intended to
provide an incentive to businesses to participate in the community's job
creation/retention programs.
AGGREGATION OF HOUSING UNITS in an individual NRSA for which CDBG
funds are obligated during each program year.
o 51 percent of the total number of units must be occupied by LMI households.
o Permits grantees greater flexibility in applying the LMI
housing national objective criteria for the housing
category.
o Grantees have flexibility in providing housing to residents of the NRSA neighborhood.
o NOTE: The flexibility to aggregate housing units assisted does not
change the requirement that homeownership assistance provided under
570.201(n) must be provided only to LMI households
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES carried out in the NRSA may be
excluded from the aggregate public benefit standards.
o Reduces recordkeeping requirements.
o Affords greater flexibility in selecting and implementing economic
development activities, and reduces the amount and scope of information
that grantees must collect and maintain regarding its programs.
o Note: Projects are still subject to the individual/project public benefit standards.
PUBLIC SERVICES offered within the NRSA and carried out as part of qualified
projects under the NRSA by a Community Based Development Organization
(CBDO) are exempt from the public services cap.
o Permits grantees to offer a more intensive level of services
within the approved community to stimulate revitalization.
o Flexibility includes job training and other employment related services
and, as such, can provide an important foundation for economic
opportunity for neighborhood residents
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Map of Proposed Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas (NRSA)
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