Community Development Block Grant

The City of Walnut Creek is currently offering the FY 2027 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Renewal opportunity for public services, a funding stream intended to support organizations that were previously awarded CDBG funds in FY 2026. Administered by the City’s Housing Division, this grant is part of a larger effort under the 2025–2030 Consolidated Plan to support community development and public service programs that benefit low- and moderate-income residents. The CDBG program itself is federally funded and administered locally, enabling municipalities to address specific community needs in areas such as housing, infrastructure, and social services. Through this renewal, the City aims to maintain continuity of services and enhance long-term outcomes by allowing existing grantees to sustain and expand ongoing projects. The CDBG Renewal Application for FY 2027 opened for submission and will remain open until Thursday, February 12, 2026. Notably, this round is non-competitive—only organizations that received FY 2026 CDBG funding are eligible to apply, and no new applicants will be considered. This structure supports program stability and ensures funding is directed toward programs with a proven track record. Applicants are encouraged to treat this as a new application by updating narratives, statistics, and justifications to reflect current conditions and the continued importance of their services. The City cautions against copying and pasting prior year narratives, as reviewers are attentive to narrative freshness and relevance. To apply, eligible applicants must use the City Data Services (CDS) platform. This system manages not only the application process but also the full lifecycle of grant administration, including contracts and reporting. Interested applicants should begin by reviewing the CDS application guide, creating or accessing their account, and completing the online application. The City strongly advises beginning the application process early, noting that the CDS platform logs activity and submission times. Technical support is available directly through City Data Services for portal-related issues, while programmatic questions should be directed to the Housing Division via [email protected] or (925) 256-3544. Eligibility for the renewal is contingent on the program continuing to serve a population where at least 51% of beneficiaries are at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). This income qualification must be clearly demonstrated in the application. Awardees will be expected to comply with ongoing reporting requirements, which include quarterly progress reports, expense summaries, Sources & Uses (S&U) statements, and Requests for Reimbursement (RfR). This structured reporting ensures program transparency and proper use of federal funds, and continued funding is contingent upon satisfactory performance and compliance. Following application submission, proposals will be reviewed internally by City staff and then presented to the Housing and Community Development Committee. Final funding decisions will be made by the Walnut Creek City Council. Applicants are invited to attend both public meetings as part of the review and decision-making process. Notifications will follow these meetings, and grantees will enter into contracts governed by the terms set through CDS and the Consolidated Plan. While this renewal opportunity does not accept new applicants, organizations interested in future rounds are encouraged to stay informed by joining the City's notification list. Future rounds will be open to a broader applicant base, particularly during the next full application year, which will align with the subsequent years of the Consolidated Plan. This recurring structure ensures a balanced combination of stability for ongoing programs and opportunities for innovation and new services in the long term.

Begin early; avoid last-minute submission; application timestamps are tracked and reviewed for quality assurance.