The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), is designed to support the revitalization and economic sustainability of communities throughout Pennsylvania. Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the program aims to provide assistance primarily to low- and moderate-income individuals by addressing a variety of community development needs. These include housing rehabilitation, infrastructure improvements, public services, and economic development initiatives.
CDBG funding is made available through two distinct components. First, there is annual formula-based funding to eligible municipalities including counties, cities, boroughs, and townships in Pennsylvania’s rural and nonmetropolitan areas. Second, up to 12% of the annual allocation is reserved for the Competitive Set-Aside Program, intended for critical infrastructure and revitalization projects proposed by eligible local governments with populations under 10,000 or by non-entitlement municipalities. Competitive applications must allocate at least 75% of their entitlement allocation to the proposed project and may request administrative funds not exceeding 10% of the total.
Applications must be submitted electronically via the DCED Single Application for Assistance at grants.pa.gov. Required supporting documents include a Citizen Participation Report, Management Plan, Community Development Plan, project maps, and budget details. Additionally, applications must outline how the project meets national objectives and benefits low- to moderate-income populations. Documentation such as fair housing advertisements, Section 504 compliance, and Minority/Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) outreach plans are required at various stages depending on the type of applicant.
Applications open on July 11, 2025. Entitlement applicants must submit by October 31, 2025, while competitive applicants have until February 6, 2026. Projects will undergo a structured review process based on priority areas which include water and sewer improvements, housing, resiliency projects, and community revitalization. Funding decisions will follow the review, approval, and contracting process as outlined in the program flowchart.
Eligible applicants should direct questions to their designated grant manager. If unknown, inquiries can be sent to ra-dcedCDBGhomequestions@pa.gov or call 1-866-466-3972. Additional guidance, templates, and regulatory resources are available at dced.pa.gov/cdbg. For application mapping, DCED recommends using HUD’s mapping tool to identify project service areas and demographics.
Attach service area maps using HUD mapping tool, include current photos, ensure low/mod income data supports eligibility.
