The Community Development Block Grant is one of the best-known programs managed at the state level by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Gov. Kay Ivey has proclaimed April 5-9, 2021 as Community Development Week in Alabama in recognition of the positive impacts that the CDBG program has brought to Alabama communities in the years since its inception in 1974.
The program is managed at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is designed to support projects that will benefit low- to moderate-income areas and that address urgent community needs.
In 2020, Governor Ivey awarded $19.4 million for improvements in 61 Alabama communities through ADECA’s CDBG program. These funds are allowing Alabama communities, including many in rural areas, to extend and improve public water and sewer service, improve roads and drainage, remove blight, rehabilitate housing and repurpose existing public building for new community use.
The governor also awarded $5.5 million in economic development CDBG funds through ADECA to help create or retain more than 500 jobs in Alabama.
The proclamation also spotlights the HOME Investments and Partnership Program which supports housing opportunities for low- to moderate-income people.