Competitive Funding Process

The City of Dothan's Program Year 2026 Competitive Funding Process provides financial support to eligible nonprofit organizations that operate social service programs benefiting residents within the City of Dothan, Alabama. In the prior year, the City distributed over $492,000 to support more than 19 agencies, local programs, and city departments, highlighting its continued commitment to strengthening community well-being through targeted funding. This initiative is administered by the City of Dothan’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and overseen by the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC). The funding process begins with two mandatory application training sessions, scheduled for January 21 and January 22, 2026. These trainings will be held at the Dothan Houston County Library, and attendance at one of them is required for eligibility. Applicants must sign in at the event to receive credit for attending. Following the trainings, the official application period opens on January 23, 2026, and remains open through March 2, 2026. All completed applications must be submitted electronically via the ZoomGrants portal accessible through the City of Dothan’s website. One-on-one technical assistance is available for applicants upon request. The selection process is governed by a detailed timeline that ensures public transparency and consistent review. Once the application window closes, the CDAC reviews the submitted packets and holds a series of meetings. Applicant presentations are scheduled for April 27 and 28, 2026, during which CDAC members will hear directly from applying organizations. This is followed by a deliberation meeting on April 30, 2026, and a formal presentation to the City Commission on May 19, 2026. The Commission is expected to approve final project selections on June 2, 2026. Following approval, there will be a public comment period running from July 1 through July 31, 2026. The City of Dothan will post the Annual Action Plan notice on June 15, 2026. A public hearing and approval of the Action Plan by the City Commission is scheduled for August 4, 2026. The finalized Annual Action Plan is due for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on August 14, 2026. The City of Dothan places a strong emphasis on inclusive participation and technical support to ensure that all qualifying organizations can navigate the application process effectively. The program is not currently listed as recurring on an annual basis, and no specific language indicating future cycles has been noted in the source. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Tera Wells, the CDBG Program Administrator, at 334-615-4417 or via email at [email protected] for further information or assistance throughout the application process.