Community Services Block Grant Discretionary Awards

 

Community Services Block Grant Discretionary Awards includes three programs: Community Economic Development (CED), Rural Community Development (RCD) and the Neighborhood innovation projects (NIP). On an annual based Congress has only provided appropriations to CED and RCD programs. NIP has never received funding. CED program provides awards on a competitive basis to private, nonprofit organizations that are community development corporations (CDCs). The CDC provides technical and financial assistance for economic development activities that address the economic needs of individuals and families with low income, through the creation of sustainable business development and employment opportunities. CED funds are used for commercial developments and equity investments or loans to capitalize a new business or expand an existing business, so the businesses can create new, full-time permanent jobs for individuals with low incomes. CED allows communities to drive the type of investment and/or business to that which is most needed in the community. Seventy-five percent of the jobs created must be filled by individuals that are below 200% of HHS poverty guideline. In addition to the CED Projects Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), CED has published three additional NOFOs that support communities with low-income that create business and job opportunities: (1) CED Focus on Social Enterprise (CED-SE); (2) CED Focus on Energy Communities (CED-Energy); and (3) CED Planning Grant (CED-Planning). All the initiatives have the same objectives of the CED program: to create economic mobility opportunities for individuals with low-income. The CED-Energy and the CED-Planning awards are aligned with President Bidens Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and the Justice40 initiative. The CED-Energy program supports efforts to empower workers by revitalizing energy communities. Energy communities are communities that have experienced employment loss and/or economic dislocation events because of declines in the fossil fuel industry and/or are disproportionately reliant on fossil fuel energy production or distribution, including coal, oil, gas, and power plant communities across the country. The CED-Planning initiative is to stimulate the development of new CED projects through the provision of resources that are used to support administrative and capacity building. The RCD program provides awards to multistate, regional, and tribal nonprofit organizations that provides training and technical assistance to small, rural communities for the improvement of drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities. RCD helps community members identify and address water and wastewater related issues, including infrastructure and accessibility needs; increase access for families with low incomes to water supply and waste disposal services; preserve affordable water and waste disposal services in low-income rural communities; train water operators to ensure water systems comply with federal regulations; increase local capacity and expertise to establish and maintain needed water facilities; increase economic opportunities for low-income rural communities by ensuring they have basic water and sanitation; utilize technical assistance to leverage additional public and private resources; promote improved coordination of federal, state, and local agencies and financing programs to benefit low-income communities; and help communities establish financial stability and financial reserves to maintain water delivery and wastewater disposal systems.

Active 93.570 Administration For Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 It is anticipated that 39 grants will be awarded for CED and 8 grant award for RCD programs 39 discretionary grants awarded for CED and 8 discretionary grants awarded for RCD.
Fiscal Year 2017 22 discretionary grants awarded for CED and 8 discretionary grants awarded for RCD programs in FY 2017.
Fiscal Year 2018 25 grants were awarded for CED and 8 grants were award for RCD programs.
Fiscal Year 2019 23 grants were awarded for CED and 8 grants award for RCD program.
Fiscal Year 2020 The CED program awarded 26 grants and RCF awarded eight grants.
Fiscal Year 2021 The CED program awarded 20 new grant projects. In additional, six non-competing continuation grants were issues for CED Focus on Social Enterprise. The RCD program will issue non-competing continuation awards to eight grant recipients.
Fiscal Year 2022 The CED program awarded 15 new projects. In addition, six non-competing continuation awards were issued for CED-SE and CED anticipated awarding six new awards for CED-Energy. The RCD program issued non-competing continuation awards to eight recipients.
Fiscal Year 2023 The CED program estimates to award 15 new projects. In addition, CED anticipates six non-competing continuation grants for CED-SE, four new awards for CED -Energy, and 10 new awards for CED-Planning. The RCD program anticipates issuing non-competing continuation awards to eight recipients. The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act of 1981, Section 680(a)(2) and 680(a)(3)(B), as amended by the Community Opportunities, Accountability and Training & Education Services Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-285) 42 USC 9921(a)(2) and 42 USC 9921(a)(3)(b) For each CED award, eligibility is restricted to private, nonprofit organizations that are community development corporations to provide technical and financial assistance for economic development activities designed to address the economic needs of low-income individuals and families by creating employment and business development opportunities. For a community development corporation to receive funds to carry out the CED program, the corporation shall be governed by a board that shall consist of residents of the community and business and civic leaders and shall have as a principal purpose planning, developing, or managing low-income housing or community development projects. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under all funding opportunities. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity. Under RCD, eligibility is restricted to multi-state, regional, private, non-profit organizations, including those that support tribal entities, with the ability to enable the organizations to provide training and technical assistance to small, rural communities concerning meeting their community facility needs. For CED program: the beneficiaries are individual, family, and unemployed with low Income. Seventy-five percent of the jobs created must be filled by individual whose household income level does not exceed 200 percent of the official poverty guidelines, as found in the most recent revision of the HHS Poverty Guidelines published by HHS at https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines. For the RCD program: the beneficiaries are small rural communities facing unique challenges in managing their water systems because of the lack of resources and technical skill to address the needs of very small water and wastewater systems. Applicants applying for CED funding must be a private, nonprofit CDC with 501(c)(3) status. The applicant must have articles of incorporation or bylaws demonstrating that the CDC has as a principal purpose the planning, developing, or managing of low-income housing or community development projects; and the Board of Director must have representation from each of the following: community residents, business leaders, and civic leaders. Applicants applying for RCD activities must provide evidence of being a multistate, regional, private, nonprofit organizations to enable the organizations to provide training and technical assistance to small, rural communities concerning meeting their community facility needs. Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. For both CED and RCD, applicants may find and apply to Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) on https://www.grants.gov. Each application will be screened to determine whether it meets any of the disqualifying factors: missing the application deadline, required electronic submission or waiver requested and approved, or exceeding the Award Ceiling. Disqualified applications are considered to be "non-responsive" and are excluded from the competitive review process. Applications competing for financial assistance will be reviewed and evaluated by objective review panels using only the criteria described in Section V.1. Criteria of this NOFO. Each panel is composed of experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally, review panels include three reviewers and one chairperson. Results of the competitive objective review are taken into consideration by ACF in the selection of projects for funding; however, objective review scores and rankings are not binding. Scores and rankings are only one element used in the award decision-making process. If identified in Section I. Program Description, ACF reserves the right to consider preferences to fund organizations serving emerging, unserved, or under-served populations, including those populations located in pockets of poverty. In addition, ACF reserves the right to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio by considering geographic distribution of federal funds (e.g. ensuring coverage of states, counties, or service areas) in its pre-award decisions. ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management or financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to subaward if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and manage subrecipients. Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than requested. Deadlines for CED and RCD awards are posted in the Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs), found on www.Grants.gov. From 120 to 180 days. Not applicable. CED-SE and the RCD awards have non-competing continuations during the second through fifth budget period. Non-competing continuations will be issued based on availability of funds, satisfactory progress, compliance with terms and conditions and a determination that continuation funding is in the best interest of the federal government. FY 2023 is the last funding year for the CED-SE projects. The criteria for selecting proposals will be published in the NOFO. CED awards cover project costs for (1) startup or expansion of business, physical improvements, or commercial activities. (2) capital expenditures such as the purchase of equipment or real property; (3) allowable operating expenses; and (4) loans or equity investments. Expenditures must result in the creation of employment or business opportunities for low-income individuals. RCD funds are used to provide training and technical assistance to: help community members identify and address water and wastewater related issues, including infrastructure and accessibility needs; increase access for families with low incomes to water supply and waste disposal services; preserve affordable water and waste disposal services in low-income rural communities; train water operators to ensure water systems comply with federal regulations; increase local capacity and expertise to establish and maintain needed water facilities; increase economic opportunities for low-income rural communities by ensuring they have basic water and sanitation; utilize technical assistance to leverage additional public and private resources; promote improved coordination of federal, state, and local agencies and financing programs to benefit low-income communities; and help communities establish financial stability and financial reserves to maintain water delivery and wastewater disposal systems. The RCD awards cover the training and technical assistance activities. Expenditure cannot be used for infrastructure activities. Performance Reports: Recipients will be required to submit performance progress reports, on a semi-annual basis. Information on PPR reporting requirements as part of the terms and conditions of each award. A final PPR is required to be submitted 90 days after the close of the project period. Information on PPR reporting requirements is available on the OCS website at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/resource/ced-ppr-forms-and-instructions. 45 CFR Part 75 Subpart F applies to this program. All records are to be maintained in accordance with 45 CFR 75.361-365. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. CED Projects and CED-Energy financial assistance awards are made available for periods of 36 to 48 months. This is the time during which the recipient obligates funding to carry out the work authorized under the federal award. CED projects and CED-Energy are fully funded at the time of award and do not have non-competing continuations. The CED-SE were awarded in FY 2019 for five years with the project period ending 09/30/2024. The CED Planning Grants are awarded for 24 months, fully funded. The RCD financial assistance awards have a 60-month project period with five 12- month budget periods. Non-competing continuations will be issued based on availability of funds, satisfactory progress, compliance with terms and conditions and a determination that continuation funding is in the best interest of the federal government. Post award, our Division of Payment Management will establish an account from which a recipient may draw down award funds. Recipients draw down their approved awards according to their approved budget plans. None/Not specified. Thom Campbell, Senior Advisor
Division of Community Discretionary Programs, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services
Washington, DC 20201 US
thom.campbell@acf.hhs.gov
Phone: 2024015455 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs 75-1536-0-1-506 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$12,860,000.00; FY 23 est $11,720,000.00; FY 24 est $13,220,000.00; FY 21$14,856,994.00; FY 20$16,899,256.00; FY 19$19,685,000.00; FY 18$17,336,127.00; FY 17$17,358,014.00; FY 16$27,410,948.00; - Community Economic Development Projects(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$1,500,000.00; FY 23 est $1,500,000.00; FY 24 est $0.00; FY 21$2,400,000.00; FY 20$9,184,472.00; FY 19$8,910,000.00; FY 18$7,753,041.00; FY 17$7,236,906.00; FY 16$6,391,349.00; - CED Focus on Social Enterprise(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$3,200,000.00; FY 23 est $3,200,000.00; FY 24 est $3,200,000.00; FY 21$0.00; - CED Focus on Energy Communities(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $1,500,000.00; FY 24 est $1,500,000.00; FY 21$9,455,800.00; - CED Planning Grants(Project Grants) FY 22$10,255,800.00; FY 23 est $11,055,800.00; FY 24 est $11,055,800.00; - Rural Community Development FY 2022 -The range of assistance under the CED program was $200,000 up to $800,000. The average CED award was $627,142. Each RCD recipient received the same award level of $1,281,975. FY 2023 -The range of assistance under the CED program was $150,000 - up to $800,000. The average CED award was $512,000. Each RCD recipient received the same award level of $1,381,975. FY 2024 -The range of assistance under the CED program is expected to be $150,000 - Up to $800,000. The average CED award is expected to be $512,000. Each RCD recipient is expected to receive the same award level of $1,381,975. Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature can be found: For CED - https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/policy-guidance/ced-policy-and-guidance For RCD - https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/policy-guidance/rcd-policy-and-guidance Fiscal Year 2020 Current funded CED project can be found at: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/map/ced-map-current-grantee-locations-fy-2020. RCD funded projects can be found at: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/grant-funding/rcd-fy2020-grant-awards.
Fiscal Year 2021 CED projects develop new products, services, and commercial activities that result in the creation of new, full-time, full-year jobs — at least 75 percent were filled by individuals with low incomes. A CED project uses $800,000 in CED funds to make a loan to an adult day care center, to expand facilities, upgrade technology and equipment, and add additional staff with behavioral management licensing. The total project created 32 jobs of which 75% were fill by individuals with low-incomes. A second project which was a CED-Energy community grant recipient uses $800,000 in CED funds to support the construction of meeting and conference center that provided lodging accommodations, meeting venues, recreation amenities, and hospitality facilities on a former coal mine site. Another CED-Energy community expand the local public market, stimulating agricultural production and the distribution of locally grown produce and products.
Fiscal Year 2023 Example of two CED projects: Funds were used to expand two local restaurants that created 39 new jobs in the restaurant industry. Another, project used funds to construct a new heath center by redeveloping a historic building that created 27 new jobs in the health care industry. Example of an RCD project: A small unincorporated area of 600 homes had shallow wells from which residences received their drinking water. Because the well water was shallow, the wells were vulnerable to developing contamination. The well water contained high levels of sulfur, iron, and nitrates with a disagreeable smell and taste, not suitable for drinking, showering, or laundry. Buying bottled water was a financial burden for residents with low-income. The residence organized and initiated an effort to establish a community water system by engaging the RCD program recipient. The RCD recipient provided assistance by testing the water to show increased contamination and its impact on the health in individuals that consume and bathe with the water. The RCD recipient also facilitated a bottled water program to be distributed to residence. The recipient helped identify funding that supported connecting the population to a clean safer water system.