The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program enables rural Oklahoma communities to finance a variety of public infrastructure and economic improvements and helps promote job growth as a result of these improvements. CDBG funds are provided by the federal government and managed by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to help ensure Oklahoma's most critical needs are addressed.

Each year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides to Commerce about $17 million in CDBG funds that finance economic and infrastructure programs for rural Oklahoma communities in the form of grants.

In 2009, Commerce awarded funding for 150 new projects in rural Oklahoma totaling $14.16 million. Thousands of projects in hundreds of communities across the state have been funded and completed since the state began administering the program in 1982. 

Program Objectives
State objectives are consistent with the overall national objectives that are defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for CDBG programs:

• Developing viable urban communities by providing decent housing and suitable living environments and expanding economic opportunities, principally for people of low and moderate income;
• Addressing the most serious community needs of the state, as identified by local governments, while promoting locally sustainable communities;
• Eliminating substandard conditions;
• Increasing the economic competitiveness of communities.

Types of Programs Funded
Typical program areas include water and wastewater system improvements, railway improvements, streets, storm water drainage improvements, fire protections, housing demolition or rehabilitation, community and senior citizen centers, and planning.

Appropriation of Funds
Commerce manages appropriation and distribution of CDBG money to grant recipients ensuring that projects are funded efficiently and program objectives are met. Funds are allocated to specific program areas annually and distributed to grant recipients between April and March. Most of Oklahoma's CDBG funds are allocated to benefit principally low- and moderate-income people.

The state plan outlines the yearly funding objectives and distribution plan.

2011 State CDBG Plan
2011 Application & Award Dates
2011 CDBG REAP Application
2011 Community Revitalization Application
2011 WW Engineering Application
CDBG Small Cities Application 2011
CDBG W-WW Construction Application 2011
2011 CDBG EDIF Guidelines Application
Certified CDBG Administrators

Eligibility
Eligible applicants are units of local government (counties and incorporated towns or cities) except the following:

Entitlement cities:
Edmond, Enid, Lawton, Midwest City, Norman, Oklahoma City, Shawnee and Tulsa.
Participants in the CDBG Urban County Designation for Tulsa County:
Bixby, Broken Arrow, Collinsville, Glenpool, Jenks, Owasso, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Skiatook, Sperry, and all the unincorporated portions of Tulsa County.

Next Steps
If you are interested in applying for CDBG funds, see each funding area for a more in-depth explanation of the application requirements and process.

• Water/Wastewater Phase I (Engineering) and II (Construction)
• Community Revitalization
• Economic Development Infrastructure Financing (EDIF) released April 1
• Small Cities Program
• Rural Economic Action Plan

Important:
Typically, all CDBG funding is awarded by November of the program year.

For Further Assistance
Technical assistance regarding eligible projects, project concepts, the application guidelines, and other information pertaining to the CDBG program is available upon request. Applicants are encouraged to contact the staff members listed in Contacts anytime they are uncertain about program requirements, project conceptualization, or any portion of the application packet and/or guidelines.