Grants help support the cost of necessary infrastructure to attract new businesses and the cost of improvements in the community to raise the quality of life of citizens. Our focus is on securing grants for city departments. When we come across grant opportunities that are appropriate for community agencies or businesses, we forward that information to them. Federal and State tax dollars fund the grants. Rarely is a city government eligible for foundation funds. City departments implement most grants. Community Development does implement and manage CDBG funded grants, housing grants, and some INDOT grants.

 

CDBG Projects- The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program provides grants through several programs. Begun in 1974, the CDBG program is one of the oldest programs in the U.S. Housing and Urban Department (HUD), http://www.hud.gov . The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, (IOCRA), http://www.in.gov/ocra, implements the grant program in Indiana. CDBG grants require detailed documentation and must be managed by a certified person who has successfully completed coursework and a test. Certification must be updated every two years. Currently, the City has two certified grants administrators.

 

The City has received funding from two different CDBG programs offered in community development. To qualify for these grants 51% or more of the residents in the city must be low-to-moderate income families. This is verified by an Income Survey every four years. The Income Survey is conducted by a state certified person.

 

Community Focus Fund Planning grants support planning that a city may need to do, such as a comprehensive plan or the design and costs of a construction project. The Community Focus Fund grant program is to help meet the needs of low-to-moderate income persons. This covers a variety of projects. A recent project was the new building at Achieva Resources, Inc. on Mendelson Drive. The IOCRA website, http://www.in.gov/ocra, provides details on eligible projects, grants that are available, and other information on the program.