Community Development Block Grant Program

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is the principal federal program providing grants to states, cities and towns to devise neighborhood approaches that will improve the physical, economic and social conditions in communities. CDBG is administered nationally by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The City of Lee's Summit receives federal funds annually from this program to meet at least one of three National Objectives:

  1. Benefit low- to moderate-income individuals.
  2. Reduce slum and/or blight.
  3. Response to disaster relief.

Development Services is the administrative entity that applies, receives and provides oversight of CDBG funding for the City. While the City is the recipient of CDBG funds, it disburses much of its annual allocation to nonprofit organizations, called subrecipients, to undertake community development activities. 

Eligibility and Qualifications

To be eligible for CDBG funds, an activity must meet one of the three National Objectives, which are:

  • benefit low- to moderate-income persons
  • eliminate or prevent blight or slums (blight and slums must be declared by the local governing body)
  • address an urgent community need (disaster relief)

Eligible and Ineligible Activities

Subrecipient Eligibility

An eligible subrecipient is any of the following:

  • public agency
  • nonprofit agency
  • Community-Based Development Organization (certified CBDO)

A developer/contractor/owner is not an eligible subrecipient.