Maine's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program provides funding and technical support for projects that achieve local community and economic development objectives, while principally benefiting low-moderate income persons. These programs are only available to Maine towns, cities and counties for the benefit of Maine residents.
Funding for the Maine CDBG program is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the guidelines of Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 as amended. Eligible activities must meet one of the following CDBG program national objectives: benefiting low-moderate persons, eliminating slum and blighting influences or addressing an urgent need.
The primary focus of the CDBG program is to benefit low-moderate income persons. The Maine CDBG program receives and distributes over sixteen million dollars each year. Since the state took over the administration of the CDBG program in 1982 over $370,000,000 has been invested in Maine communities.
Communities participate in a competitive application process annually for CDBG funds to implement their proposed community and economic development projects. CDBG funds are only available to towns, cities and counties in the State of Maine for the benefit of Maine residents.
The entitlement communities of Auburn, Bangor, Lewiston, Portland and South Portland, receive funds directly from HUD and are not eligible for Maine CDBG program funding.
Text taken from the Maine Office of Community Development website; learn more at http://www.meocd.org