Community Development Block Grant 

The City of Bismarck receives an annual allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These funds must be used for community activities that primarily benefit low and moderate income persons or for removal of slum and blight.

The City is an "entitlement community" for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds which may be used to address the housing and community development needs of the community, particularly the needs of residents who are low and moderate-income. The Planning Division administers HUD grant programs for the City of Bismarck.
 
As an entitlement community, the City may develop its own program and funding priorities. Every five years. the City adopts a Consolidated Plan explaining the community's needs and priorities as well as the programs and projects it intends to fund.
 
Annually, the City adopts an Annual Action Plan that explains how the City will use its CDBG funds during the individual fiscal year. Annual Action Plans become a part of the Consolidated Plan.

Program Requirements


CDBG funds must be used primarily for the benefit of low and moderate-income persons. Generally, CDBG funds may be for the following, subject to federal regulations:

  • Acquisition of real property 
  • Relocation and demolition 
  • Rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures 
  • Construction of public facilities and improvements 
  • Public services (subject to the funding cap explained below) 
  • Planning and administration (subject to the funding cap explained below)

Each year, a maximum of 15% of funds may be used for public services, a maximum of 20% may be used for grant administration, and at least 65% is used for housing programs, public facilities, infrastructure improvements, and other uses allowed under federal regulations. Programs and services may be delivered directly by the City of Bismarck, or the City may make subgrants to agencies to carry-out eligible programs and projects.
 
The Consolidated Plan/Annual Action process begins in the spring of each year when CDBG grant application forms are made available by the City. Next, the City holds two public hearings concerning the Consolidated Plan (every five years) and Annual Action Plan (annually) to determine the priority housing and community development needs of the City. After the first public hearing, a draft Consolidated Plan and/or Annual Action Plan is made available for a 30-day public comment period. The second public hearing is held prior to submission of the Consolidated Plan/Annual Action Plan to HUD; or at the conclusion of the 30-day public comment period. Usually, the Consolidated Plan and/or Annual Action Plan is adopted by the City Board at the conclusion of the second public hearing.

The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) provides a yearly accounting of CDBG funds allocated towards the implementation of the goals and objectives outlined in the Five-Year Strategic Plan included in the Consolidated Plan. Each year, the CAPER is made available on the City’s website in July for a 15 day comment period.
 
For more information on the City's CDBG program, contact the CDBG Program Administrator Hilary Balzum  at 701-355-1840. 

City of Bismarck

Public Notice and Public Comment

Substantial Amendment to the 

2024 Annual Action Plan for CDBG Funding

The City of Bismarck invites the public to comment on a proposed substantial amendment to the 2024 Annual Action Plan which outlines proposed activities to utilize the 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to address housing and community development needs. 

A “substantial change” to an Annual Action Plan is defined by the City be: a) a change in the allocation priorities or goals identified in the Consolidated Plan; or b) a change in the method of dis-tributing funds (i.e. application process, selection criteria for projects, etc.); or c) adding an activity not previously identified in the Consolidated Plan or Annual Action Plan; d) a change in the purpose, scope, location, or type of beneficiaries of a project to such an extent that it can no longer reasonably be construed as the activity reviewed by the public and approved by the City Commission; or e) an increase or decrease in project funds of at least 20% for any activity whose allocation is $50,000 or more. An increase to an activity above 20% may be allowed if a portion of funds are from sources other than the standard CDBG allocation (i.e. CDBG-CV funds).  The City’s Citizen Participation Plan requires that whenever the City makes a substantial change to an Annual Action Plan, a public comment period and public hearing must be held. 

The substantial amendment to the 2024 Annual Action Plan includes the following:

•    Modification of Section AP-35 (Projects) to add one project funded for 2024: 

o    Abused Adult Resource Center –Reduce the AARC domestic violence shelter funding by $14,923 and reallocate these funds to a second activity for ADA enhancements to a bathroom at the agency operated Seeds of Hope secondhand store.

Written 30-Day Comment Period: The written comment period for the substantial amendment to the 2024 Annual Action Plan runs from Saturday, February 14, 2026, through Monday, March 20, 2026.  

A draft of the amended document is available online here (PDF), or at the City of Bismarck Community Development Department in the City/County Office Building at 221 North 5th Street, Bismarck, ND. 

Written comments may be submitted to hbalzum@bismarcknd.gov, delivered to the CDBG Office in the Community Development Department, or via voice message to the CDBG Office at 701-355-1847. For additional information and comment opportunities please visit https://www.bismarcknd.gov/1041/HUD-Grant-Programs. 

Public Hearing: A public hearing on the substantial amendment to the 2024 Annual Action Plans will be held in the David Blackstead Meeting Room on the second floor of the City-County Office Building at 221 North 5th Street in Bismarck on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 5:00 pm. It is expected that the City Commission will take final action on the amendment to the 2024 Annual Action Plan at its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

To request accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act to attend or participate in any public meeting, and/or to obtain this notice in alternate formats, contact the Planning Department at 701-355-1840 as soon as possible before the meeting. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities or with limited English proficiency using TTY/TDD equipment via Relay North Dakota at 711 or 1-800-366-6888/TTY, 1-800-366-6889/English or 1-800-435-8590/Spanish.

Notice of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disability and Reasonable Accommodation 

The City of Bismarck promotes fair housing and makes all its programs available to low- and moderate-income families regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual preference, marital status or handicap. The City of Bismarck does not discriminate in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its federally assisted programs and activities on the basis of disability. Reasonable accommodations will be made available to the disabled, upon request. Translators/Translation services are also available upon request.


Federal Resources for Subrecipients

City of Bismarck CDBG Program Resources & Information 

City of Bismarck CDBG Plans and Reports

For additional information on the HUD Grant Programs, contact Hilary Balzum.