Community Development Block Grant Disaster Response Program

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Response Program is a federally funded initiative administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The program is designed to support communities in Illinois that are facing urgent and imminent threats to public health and safety due to state-declared disasters. The program is rooted in the broader CDBG framework established under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, which aims to assist communities in addressing critical development needs, particularly benefiting low-to-moderate income populations. The Disaster Response component specifically provides financial assistance to local units of government that have experienced a disaster event formally declared by the Governor of Illinois. Applications must be submitted within six months of the gubernatorial disaster declaration. The program is guided by the federal National Objective of addressing "Urgent Need," though if the project area qualifies as having at least 51% low-to-moderate income (LMI) residents, that designation will take precedence. The goal is to fund time-sensitive projects that cannot be addressed through existing local or alternative funding sources. Eligible activities under this program include interim measures that directly respond to disaster impacts, such as debris removal, street clearance (including snow), and emergency or temporary repairs to streets for safety and access purposes. A portion of the funding may also be used for activity delivery, which involves the costs associated with grant management, documentation, and compliance, up to a maximum of $5,000 per grant award. Activities like general government expenses, building repairs for governmental structures, and regular public services are explicitly excluded from eligibility. Only units of general local government such as cities, villages, townships, and counties that are not entitlement recipients of HUD funds may apply. Entities must be registered in the Illinois GATA Grantee Portal and have current standing with the Secretary of State and federal systems like SAM.gov. Applications must include detailed documentation including a letter of transmittal, financial statements, a project summary, a FEMA floodplain map, disaster declaration evidence, and various FEMA forms that detail labor, equipment, and materials. A public hearing process is mandatory prior to submission to ensure transparency and community input. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed in the order they are received, continuing until the allocated program funding is exhausted. The grant has an established ceiling of $250,000 per eligible applicant, and the total funding available through this NOFO is $2,120,450. Contracts will be awarded for a period of twelve months, with no extensions allowed. Successful applicants will first receive a Notice of State Award Finalist (NOSAF), followed by a formal Notice of State Award (NOSA) upon satisfaction of all preconditions. Applicants can contact Wendy Bell at [email protected] for assistance or further inquiries. Additional program details, forms, and the required application components are available through the DCEO website. The program is an annual allocation from HUD, although this specific funding opportunity does not specify recurring deadlines, emphasizing urgency and responsiveness to disaster-related needs.

Use only official application materials; ensure complete public hearing documentation or risk rejection.