Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Overview

The Planning Division administers HUD grant programs for the City.

The City 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 of Bismarck receives funding through the Federal Government's U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for housing and the community development programs. 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.
 
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.

Substantial Amendment #2 to 2019 Annual Action Plan for CDBG and CDBG-CV Funding (View draft here)

The City of Bismarck invites the public to comment on a proposed substantial amendment to the 2019 Annual Action Plan. The 2019 Annual Action Plan outlines proposed activities to utilize the 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to address the housing and community development needs identified in the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan.  The 2019 Annual Action Plan includes the City’s annual CDBG entitlement allocation as well as the CDBG-CV allocation for preventing, preparing for and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A “substantial change” to the Consolidated or 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 distributing funds (i.e. application process, selection criteria for projects, etc.); or c) a proposed new project for the program year; or 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.  The City’s Citizen Participation Plan requires that whenever the City makes a substantial change to the Consolidated Plan or an Annual Action Plan, a public comment period and public hearing must be held. 

The substantial amendment to the 2019 Annual Action Plan includes the following:

•    Modification of Section AP-20 (Annual Goals and Objectives) to clarify the funding levels and goal outcome indicators for 2019; 

•    Modification of Section AP-38 (Project Summary) to: 

o    City of Bismarck – eliminate $214,804 in 2020-CV funding for operations of a City-supported emergency shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness due to COVID-19 and reallocate those funds to Missouri Slope United Way for homeless shelter operations; 

o    Unallocated – allocate $10,000 in 2020-CV of previously unallocated funds to Missouri Slope United Way for homeless shelter operations;  

o    Legal Services of North Dakota – deobligate $18,718.80 in unused CDBG-CV funding and reallocate funds to Missouri Slope United Way for homeless shelter operations.

o    Missouri Slope United Way – increase the amount of 2020-CV funding allocated for homeless shelter operations from $50,000 to $293,522.80 to cover increased costs associated with COVID-19; and

o    Missouri Slope United Way – deobligate $60,000 from 2018 funding and $154,400 from 2019 funding for construction of a new homeless shelter to be reallocated to future projects.

Written 30-Day Comment Period: The written comment period for the substantial amendments to the 2019 Annual Action Plan runs from April 1 through May 2, 2023.  A draft of the amended document is  available online at https://www.bismarcknd.gov/1041/HUD-Grant-Programs, 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 2019 Annual Action Plan 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 Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 5:00 pm.  If you would like to attend this public hearing virtually via Microsoft Teams, please provide your e-mail address and contact information to hbalzum@bismarcknd.gov at least one business day before the meeting. 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.

It is expected that the City Commission will take final action on the amended 2019 Annual Action Plan at its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.

The City of Bismarck’s CDBG program is an Equal Opportunity Program. 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.

Applications for 2023 CDBG Funds (2023 Application Available here)

The City of Bismarck is requesting its citizens to comment on the housing and community development needs of low- and moderate-income persons. Comments will be used to develop the 2023 Annual Action Plan, which will implement goals included in the City’s Consolidated Plan (2020-2024).

The Annual Action Plan includes the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application. The City’s available amount to be allocated for 2023 is $301,032. Suggestions are needed on how to best use this money. This funding must be used for activities that primarily benefit low- and moderate-income persons (LMI) based on the goals in the City’s Consolidated Plan. 

Public Input Meeting on 2023 Annual Action Plan

Recommendations may be given at a public input meeting to be held as follows:

March 29, 2023, at 5:00 pm

David J. Blackstead Meeting Room – 2nd Floor

City-County Office Building

221 North 5th Street

Bismarck, ND

Recommendations may also be sent to hbalzum@bismarcknd.gov until March 29, 2023 for those that are not able to attend the public hearing. 

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.

Applications for CDBG 2023 Funding

Local agencies or non-profit organizations are now welcomed to apply for 2023 funding. Application forms can be found online at HUD Grant Programs | Bismarck, ND - Official Website (https://www.bismarcknd.gov/1041/HUD-Grant-Programs) or requested by email at hbalzum@bismarcknd.gov 

Agencies should consult the City’s Consolidated Plan (2020-2024) for guidance on the City’s priority areas of need. The application deadline is April 16, 2023, at 11:59 pm.

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.    

Recent Documents

Resources for Subrecipients

Resources & Information 

CDBG Annual Action Plans

Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Reports

Fair Housing Information

The Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, and disability. Buyers, tenant, or former or prospective tenant who believe to have been the target of unlawful discrimination are encouraged to file a complaint to the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights.

Department of Labor and Human Rights

600 East Boulevard Ave Dept. 406

Bismarck, ND 58505-0340

Online complaint form:  https://www.nd.gov/eforms/Doc/sfn52229.pdf

701-328-2660, 1-800-582-8032 or 1-800-399-6888 In-state toll-free

1-800-366-6889 TTY (Relay ND)

E-Mail:  labor@nd.gov

Website:  Home | Department of Labor and Human Rights

The department of labor and human rights will contact you within 30 days of complaint submission. The complaint will be assigned to an investigator who will review and investigate your complaint. For an explanation of the processes and timeframes for investigation, conciliation, and public hearings concerning complaints, please contact the Department of Planning & Community Development.

2015 City of Bismarck Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

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