Community Services Block Grant – CARES

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) – CARES funding, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED), originates from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law on March 27, 2020. This landmark legislation aimed to address both the public health crisis and the associated economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act allocated an additional $42 million to supplement the existing CSBG program within Pennsylvania, with a specific focus on supporting local agencies in their efforts to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on low-income populations. The CSBG program itself is authorized under both federal and state laws: specifically, the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training Educational Services Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-285), and Pennsylvania's Community Services Block Grant Act (P.L. 834, No. 90). It functions as a state-administered, anti-poverty block grant intended to fund operations for a certified network of eligible entities (CEEs), including Community Action Agencies (CAAs) and local government organizations. These local entities are tasked with implementing strategies to combat poverty by addressing its root causes and effects across all 64 counties of Pennsylvania. As of the current funding period, 43 agencies in Pennsylvania—comprising 42 Community Action Agencies and one Limited Purpose Agency—are designated to receive CSBG funding. These agencies develop programs tailored to their communities' specific needs and can combine CSBG funding with other local, state, federal, or private funding sources to maximize impact. The CARES Act supplemental funds are intended specifically to “help prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 and its impacts,” thereby offering flexibility to meet emergent community demands during and after the pandemic. At this time, the CSBG – CARES funding opportunity is not open to new applicants. The DCED has stated that no additional agencies are being accepted for CSBG designation, and individual applicants are not eligible to apply. Funding is strictly limited to the currently recognized CEEs. Individuals seeking services provided under this funding must contact their local CEE, as no direct funding or service applications are accepted from the general public. The application process is effectively closed to new applicants and requires no additional submission steps unless further notice is issued by the DCED. As a result, there are no required components such as letters of intent or full proposals for outside entities. The CSBG – CARES program also does not maintain an open timeline for applications, and there are no publicly listed deadlines, evaluation criteria, or program-specific contacts for potential new grantees. Given its structure and exclusivity, the CSBG – CARES funding is designed for long-term integration within Pennsylvania’s existing community service infrastructure. While the grant itself may not recur in the traditional sense, the overarching CSBG program continues to operate as an annual state-administered initiative. Future CARES-style supplements would depend on legislative action and administrative discretion. No current funding round or next application date has been announced.