Community Development Block Grant Public Facilities and Improvements

The City of Shreveport, through its Department of Community Development, has announced the availability of funding under its 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Facilities and Improvements program. The CDBG program is federally authorized under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and regulated at 24 CFR 570. The City administers these funds locally, but applicants must comply with both City and HUD requirements. The total amount available for this round is $300,000, which will support projects designed to benefit low- and moderate-income residents and align with the City’s Consolidated Strategy Plan and Annual Action Plan. The program defines public facilities broadly as buildings, structures, and related facilities owned by public or nonprofit entities, open to the public, and serving a public purpose. Eligible facilities include homeless shelters, centers for seniors, youth, or persons with disabilities, community and workforce development centers, healthcare centers, and neighborhood parks. Improvement activities may include rehabilitation, accessibility upgrades, security lighting, energy efficiency enhancements, landscaping, and other projects that visibly improve public assets. Housing projects, property acquisition, demolition, facility operating costs, or general administrative expenses are not eligible. Applicants must be either governmental entities or nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations with at least five years of demonstrated experience in providing the services related to the proposed facility. They must also be in good standing, with no unresolved debts, debarments, or incomplete City contracts. In addition, applicants must demonstrate legal site control of the property where improvements will occur, and all proposed projects must be located within one of the nineteen designated CDBG Targeted Neighborhoods, including Queensborough, Allendale, Lakeside, Ingleside, Mooretown, Cedar Grove, Hollywood, Werner Park, Cherokee Park, and Highland, among others. A key requirement of this NOFA is that applicants provide a 25 percent match of the total project cost, supported by cash or in-kind contributions. Leveraged resources from private, nonprofit, or other governmental sources are strongly encouraged and must be documented. Payments are made strictly on a reimbursement basis, so applicants must have sufficient resources to cover costs upfront. Funded projects will also be subject to compliance periods ranging from five to fifteen years depending on award size, during which the facility must continue to benefit low- and moderate-income residents. Applications are due by October 10, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. CST. They may be submitted electronically via email or hand-delivered to the Department of Community Development office at 415 Texas Street, Suite 102, Shreveport. A virtual workshop is scheduled for October 1, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. CST via Microsoft Teams. While not mandatory, attendance is strongly encouraged. Applicants will be responsible for understanding all workshop materials. Evaluation follows a two-tiered process. First, City staff conduct an eligibility review, ensuring compliance with basic requirements such as eligibility, site control, and match documentation. Eligible proposals then advance to an external review panel composed of experts in community development, housing, nonprofit management, and financial oversight. Proposals are scored on criteria including project description, performance measures, feasibility, readiness, applicant capacity, and financials. A minimum score of 75 points is required for consideration, though funding decisions also depend on available resources and alignment with priorities. Successful applicants will be required to provide proof of insurance coverage, bonding where applicable, and adherence to federal compliance standards, including Davis-Bacon prevailing wages for construction contracts, conflict of interest provisions, Section 3 economic opportunity rules, and HUD civil rights requirements. Contracts must be executed within five days of receipt, and projects must begin construction within thirty days and reach at least 51 percent completion within six months. All projects must be completed within twelve months of award. The performance period runs from October 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026.

Demonstrate clear site control; document 25% match with commitment letters; ensure project aligns with Consolidated Plan and benefits LMI residents; prepare to meet Davis-Bacon requirements; show readiness to begin within 30 days and complete within 12 months