Community Development Block Grant Program

The Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program is a federally funded initiative authorized under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and administered at the federal level by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. In Florida, the program is administered by the Florida Department of Commerce through the Small Cities CDBG Program, which operates as part of the state-administered component of the national CDBG framework. The program distributes federal funds to eligible non-entitlement units of local government, focusing on smaller municipalities and rural communities that do not receive direct entitlement funding from HUD. The purpose of the program is to support community development activities that primarily benefit low- and moderate-income persons, eliminate conditions of slum and blight, or address urgent threats to public health and safety. Eligible activities include a broad range of infrastructure, housing, and economic development projects. Examples of funded activities include water and sewer system improvements, rehabilitation of substandard housing, construction or improvement of streets and sidewalks, drainage and stormwater management, downtown revitalization efforts such as facade improvements and streetscaping, and development of community facilities such as parks and community centers. Economic development projects that create or retain jobs for low- and moderate-income individuals are also supported. The FFY 2025 funding cycle includes four primary program categories: Neighborhood Revitalization, Housing Rehabilitation, Commercial Revitalization, and Economic Development. Applicants must demonstrate that proposed activities meet at least one national objective defined by HUD. These include benefiting low- and moderate-income individuals, eliminating slum or blight conditions, or addressing urgent needs resulting from recent threats. Activities must also comply with Florida Administrative Code Chapter 73C-23 and relevant Florida statutes governing the program. Eligible applicants are limited to non-entitlement units of local government in Florida. This includes cities with fewer than 50,000 residents that have not accepted entitlement status, counties with fewer than 200,000 residents, and cities that have opted out of entitlement participation. Applicants must also meet additional program requirements, including restrictions related to existing open CDBG subgrants depending on the funding category being pursued. The program is competitive, and applications are evaluated based on criteria established in the program’s administrative procedures. The FFY 2025 application cycle opened on April 6, 2026, and will close on May 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications must be submitted electronically through the FloridaCommerce application system. Applicants are required to request access to the submission portal via email prior to submission and must complete and upload all required documentation before the deadline. A webinar was scheduled on April 8, 2026, to provide technical assistance and guidance on the application process. Approximately $22 million in total program funding is available for this funding cycle, with individual award amounts determined based on project type, category, and scoring outcomes. The program does not explicitly specify award minimums or maximums in the available materials, but funding allocations are made through a competitive scoring process aligned with state and federal priorities. Administrative support funding may also be included to assist local governments in managing awarded projects. The program is administered annually as part of the federal funding cycle, and future funding opportunities are expected in subsequent years. Applicants are encouraged to review program guidelines, administrative rules, and eligibility requirements carefully before applying. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact the program via email at [email protected] or access application materials through the FloridaCommerce website.

Ensure the project clearly meets at least one HUD national objective and aligns with eligible activity categories