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Vermont Community Development Program

The Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP) administers U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Vermont’s CDBG funding assists communities on a competitive basis by providing financial and technical assistance to identify and address local needs in areas of:

  • housing
  • economic development
  • public facilities
  • public services
  • handicapped accessibility modifications

70% of CDBG funds must primarily benefit persons of low and moderate income. Assistance can also be provided as “Slums and Blight” or “Urgent Need” to communities that VCDP determines meet federal qualifications. Please see page 17 in the VCDP Program Guide to learn more about those designations.

The Vermont HUD Consolidated Plan is submitted to HUD and outlines CDBG, HOME and Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) programs to gain access to their funding.  HOME is administered by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) and ESG is administered by the Agency of Human Services.

The following other programs are operated within VCDP have their own eligibility criteria and process and also must follow CDBG rules and regulations:

CDBG-CV (COVID)

Recovery Housing Program
 

Community Development Block Grants

The federal government created the Community Development Block grant program in 1974. Governor Phil Scott marked the 50th anniversary of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) with a proclamation.

CDBG funding for eligible activities through the following application types:

Photos of Pittsfield Town Hall and Library, Brattleboro Brooks House, Proctors Prosperity Plan and Lyndon Rural Edge Revolving Loan Fund Housing Rehab projects.

  • Accessibility Modification Grants (AM) (Grant Range: $5,000-$150,000) - Example: Bring municipally-owned buildings and libraries into compliance with state and federal accessibility requirements.
     
  • Implementation Grants (IG) (Grant Range: $50,000-$1,000,000)  -  Examples: Assist businesses to create or retain jobs, create or rehabilitate housing  units, build infrastructure, create or assist childcare and senior centers etc.
     
  • Planning Grants (PG) (Grant Range: $3,000-$60,000)  - Examples: Conduct feasibility studies and marketing plans, produce architectural and engineering plans, etc.
     
  • Scattered Site Grants (SS) (Grant Range: $50,000-$1,000,000) - Example: Rehabilitate scattered site housing projects.

CDBG Eligibility

Any Vermont town, city (except Burlington), incorporated village chartered to function as a general purpose unit of local government, or a consortium of such entities, is eligible for funding. However, the majority of projects are a coordinated effort between the municipalities, community groups and local or state non-profit organizations or small businesses.