Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME)

City of Iowa City - Housing and Community Development Commission (HCDC)

Agency: Local

GrantWatch ID #166698

Grant Description

Grants to Iowa nonprofit and for-profit organizations, public agencies, and community housing development organizations in eligible areas for community development projects to benefit low- to moderate-income residents. Eligible activities include property acquisition, preservation and rehabilitation, construction of public facilities, infrastructure improvements, and Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA). Projects should benefit residents of Iowa City.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs help develop viable urban communities through projects that principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons, including public facility, affordable housing, and other eligible activities listed in the Applicant Guide.

All proposals must benefit low-moderate income individuals. The specific ways that a project must accomplish the program’ s purpose ( also called a National Objective) varies by program.

CDBG Funds. At least 51% of those befitting from the program ( persons or households) must have incomes at or below 80% of the area median income ( AMI) based on household size. For programs that benefit individual households, all households must earn less than 80% of the median household income.

HOME Funds. All activities undertaken with HOME funds must benefit households below 80% AMI, and nearly all assisted units must be targeted to households below 60% AMI.

For Eligible Activities, see page 3 of the FY24 CDBG HOME Applicant Guide in Supporting Documents below.

First consideration for funding will go to housing (not including Community Housing Development Organizations [CHDO] operating expenses or set aside) and public facility projects of $50,000 or more. Top ranking applications will be considered first.

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Eligibility:

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Additional Eligibility Criteria:

Organization Types:
- 501(c)3
- Public
- For Profit
- Faith-Based
- CHDO
- Other

Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Certification
The HOME program requires the City of Iowa City to set aside funds for specific activities to be undertaken by a special type of nonprofit called a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). A CHDO is a private nonprofit, community-based organization that has staff with the capacity to develop affordable housing for the community it serves. In order to qualify for designation as a CHDO, the organization must meet certain requirements pertaining to their legal status, organizational structure, and capacity and experience. Applicants must be a certified CHDO to receive CHDO funds. Annual CHDO certification submissions are due March 31, 2023.

CHDO Certification: http://www8.iowa-city.org/Forms/chdo_application

Additional Geographic Information:

Affordable Housing Heat Map: https://www.iowa-city.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=2106837&dbid=0&repo=CityofIowaCity

Ineligible:

The following types of activities that are ineligible include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Public service eligible activities such as operations or salaries.
- Buildings for general conduct of government and expenses required to conduct the regular responsibilities of local government, e.g. street maintenance, public buildings for government.
- Political, religious and lobbying activities, income payments, such as rent assistance and mortgage payments. HOME only: tenant based rent assistance is an allowable activity.
- CDBG only: New housing construction, except for residential facilities providing shelter for persons with special needs ( homeless shelters, convalescent homes, halfway houses, and group homes).
- Purchase of construction equipment.

NOTE: The purchase or lease of furnishings, equipment, or other personal property ( such as vehicles) needed for an eligible public service will not be considered under this allocation process. However, these expenses would be eligible under the City’s Aid to Agency process. Additional requirements and CDBG award limitations may apply, please contact Neighborhood Services staff to discuss.

Pre-proposal Conference:

January 10, 2023 CDBG/ HOME Virtual Applicant Workshop via Zoom 12:00 PM.

HCDC and City staff strongly encourage CDBG/HOME applicants to attend the applicant workshop before applying.

Register for the Virtual Applicant Workshop at the Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctfuqsrT4sHtKoUZB1ipv557fjLWrd9b6E

Pre-Application Information:

This application window opens December 28, 2022. Applications are due Monday, January 30, 2023 at 12pm.

Tentative Timeline for FY24 CDBG/HOME and Emerging Aid to Agencies
Dates may be subject to change.
- December 28, 2022 CDBG/ HOME and Emerging Aid to Agencies applications are available.
- January 10, 2023 CDBG/ HOME Virtual Applicant Workshop via Zoom 12:00 PM.
- January 30, 2023 CDBG/ HOME Applications and Emerging Aid to Agencies Applications
due to City of Iowa City by noon ( 12pm).
- February 16, 2023 Housing and Community Development Commission meeting:
Question and answer discussion with CDBG/ HOME and Emerging Aid to Agencies applicants. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend.
- March 2, 2023 Housing and Community Development Commission members submit CDBG/ HOME score sheets to City staff for compilation.
- March 23, 2023 Housing and Community Development Commission meeting:
Review and discuss the score summary for CDBG/ HOME submissions. Commissioners will make award recommendations to City Council for CDBG/HOME funding.
Review and discuss Emerging Aid to Agencies submissions.
Commissioners will make award recommendations to City Council for Emerging Aid to Agencies funding.
- April 1, 2023 30-day comment period begins for draft FY24 Annual Action Plan.
- April 20, 2023 HCDC meeting:
Review FY24 Annual Action Plan and consider recommendation to City Council to approve the document.
- May 2, 2023 City Council meeting:
Public meeting for the Annual Action Plan and resolution finalizing awards.
- May 15, 2023 FY24 Annual Action Plan submitted to HUD.
- July 1, 2023 Fiscal year 2024 begins.
- September 15, 2023 Execute CDBG and HOME agreements with grant recipients.

Program regulations encourage leveraging non-federal funds. Non-public funds are especially encouraged. HOME funds require a minimum 25% match.

Additional Funding Information:

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$940,000

Estimated Size of Grant:

The City expects about $940,000 in CDBG/HOME funds to be available from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for this competitive application. Of this, around $700,000 must be allocated to affordable housing activities: acquisition, rehabilitation, new construction, or direct assistance for renter- or owner-occupied housing. The remaining $240,000 may be used for housing or public facilities projects. An additional $78,000 is estimated to be available for certified Community Housing Development Organization reserve activities.

Term of Contract:

Funds become available for use on July 1, 2023. Reimbursements can be made after the contract has been formalized. Expenses incurred before July 1, 2023 or before a contract has been entered may not be reimbursable and may jeopardize all the CDBG/HOME funds awarded to the project.

Contact Information:

Apply online: https://www.iowa-city.org/Forms/CDBGHOME2024

For questions about CDBG/HOME, please contact Brianna Thul at bthul@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5240.

RFP & Supporting Documents:

Full Grant Text RFP

Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates / changes / addendums / conferences / LOIs.

166698_FY24_Application_Pro_Forma_Template.xlsx