County seeks nearly $9 million in federal aid

Published July 3rd, 2008

By John Johnston
Managing Editor

Palm Beach County Commissioners have approved a $1.1 million Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) award agreement with the State of Florida Department of Community Affairs. 

This grant is similar in scope and administration to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, except that CDBG funding is primarily for infrastructure work.  CSBG funds also come from the federal government, but have more state involvement in the distribution, than is the case with CDBG funding.

This CSBG funding totals $890,777, commissioners said; county matching funds of $178,155 bring the grant total to $1,068,932.

Commissioners said these funds provide services to 5,000 low-income households, including employment counseling and placement, family self-sufficiency, transportation of kidney dialysis patients, utility assistance, rent assistance, back to school vouchers and emergency food.

Separately commissioners said that public hearing would be held Tuesday, July 22 for discussion of the draft Palm Beach County Action Plan for FY 2008-2009.  This plan is required to be considered for CDBG, Emergency Shelter Grant program, and the HOME Investments Partnership (HOME) program funding.

Preliminary plans for the 2008/09 grant cycle is to apply for $6.8 million in CDBG funds; $305,000 in ESG funds; $2.6 million in HOME funds, and an additional $21,563 under the HOME American Dream Down payment Initiative (ADDI) program, said commissioners.

Begun in 1974, the CDBG program is the longest-running program of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).   The CDBG program funds local community development activities such as affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development. CDBG, like other block grant programs, differ from categorical grants, made for specific purposes, because CDBG funding is subject to less federal oversight and is largely used at the discretion of the state, county and local governments. 

The CSBG program provides federal funding for agencies that seek to address poverty at the community level. Like other block grants, CSBG funds are allocated to the states through a formula, with less federal oversight and fewer federal requirements than categorical grants.