Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program was established by the federal Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Act). Administered nationally by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Act combined eight existing categorical programs into a single block grant program. In 1981, Congress amended the Act to allow states to directly administer the block grant for small cities. At the designation of the Governor, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (Department) assumed operation of the State of Illinois CDBG – Small Cities Program in the same year. Through this program, funds are available to assist Illinois communities to meet their greatest economic and community development needs, with an emphasis on helping persons of low-to-moderate income.