Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 

The Community Development Division manages the City of Colorado Springs’ Entitlement funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Our mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for citizens in Colorado Springs. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to improve local communities by providing decent housing, improved infrastructure, public facilities, services, and improved economic opportunities.  

Our Funding  

The City of Colorado Springs’ Community Development Division provides funding to local 501(c)(3)/ 509(a) non-profit organizations, and public agencies that serve low- to moderate-income community members.  

Public Services

CDBG Public Service funding is specifically designed to help improve conditions specific to housing, improved infrastructure, improved economic opportunities, and services to the local community.  As the grantee of funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the City of Colorado Springs Community Development Division administers funding to successful local applicants (subgrantees) for one program year.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are provided by HUD in order to improve local communities by providing decent housing, improved infrastructure, public facilities and services, and improved economic opportunities. Federal law requires that these grant funds primarily benefit low- and moderate-income persons (80% AMI or below). 

Public Services is an activity within the CDBG program. It generally funds projects that provide social services and/or other direct assistance to individuals or households. 

All CDBG projects must meet a National Objective by proving that the proposed program follows one of the following service models: 

Serves individual clients: The organization serves individual clients who are predominantly low- to moderate-income (make 80% area median income (AMI) or below). The organization qualifies clients through an income-qualification intake process, or the nature of services is such that clients are presumed to be low-income (e.g. food bank,

OR 

Serves area or neighborhood: The organization is based in and serves clients in a predominantly low- to moderate-income (LMI) Census tract. This metric is typically used for capital projects. Program examples: community center services, etc. Examples of these eligible services include, but are not limited to: Senior services, programs that serve persons with disabilities, homeless services, youth services, mental health services, educational and job training programs, public safety, substance abuse services, childcare services, etc. 

Examples of activities ineligible under the CDBG Public Services program would include: Political or religious activities, general government activities, new housing construction, and direct income payments (Direct cash payments to clients is NOT an eligible activity) 

For Organizations Interested in Applying  

The City of Colorado Springs funding program year runs from April 1st to March 30th. As such, the Community Development Division generally releases a Notice of Funding Availability (solicitation for applications) around mid-February to mid-March.  

Eligibility Basics 

  1. Project must be located within the city limits of Colorado Springs. 
  2. Serve low-income communities: the project must be in a majority LMI (51% or over) Census tract and/or serve populations presumed to be low-income; have special needs. 
  3. Organizations must be a 501(c)3, 509(a), faith-based entities, and/or public agencies. 
  4. CDBG Public Service Grants must be utilized to expand existing services and/or create new services to serve low-to-moderate-income persons. 
  5. All applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) that is in active status registered with SAM.GOV. 

Notice of Funding availability 

The City of Colorado Springs Community Development Division is soliciting applications for 2023 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Services Funds. The City has set aside $300,000 in 2023 Public Services funding to assist local emergency shelter providers. For this application period, the City is making $125,000 of the remaining Public Services funding available on a competitive basis for five (5) catalytic grants of $25,000 each.   

  1. The award minimum and maximum for CDBG Public Services is $25,000. 
  2. CDBG Public Services funds are designed to support new or expanded services in the community. Pilot projects and new approaches to providing critical services for low-income populations are welcomed. 

Technical Information

We recommend at least 1 representative (preferably the grant administrator) attend an online digital office hours session. CDD staff will host digital office hours to offer technical assistance and go over specific questions from applicants on the following dates:

Applicants are encouraged to attend one session of digital office hours for information and inquiries. No registration necessary. We advise that applicants review the 2023 CDBG and ESG Application Guide and take advantage of the digital office hours to assess one’s eligibility and fully understand the requirements before an agency invests the time and resources necessary to apply.

Digital Workshop Session #1: Tuesday April 4th, 2023, 9am -10am MST. Click here to join the meeting. Meeting ID: 252 222 387 703
Passcode: N9qK9X  Download Teams | Join on the web Or call in (audio only)  +1 720-617-3426,,894171777#   United States, Denver  Phone Conference ID: 894 171 777#  Find a local number | Reset PIN

Digital Workshop Session #2: Wednesday April 5th, 2023 1pm-2pm MST. Click here to join the meeting  Meeting ID: 247 693 296 514  Passcode: RfxrNp  Download Teams | Join on the web Or call in (audio only) +1 720-617-3426,,687022625#   United States, Denver  Phone Conference ID: 687 022 625#  Find a local number | Reset PIN

Digital Workshop Session #3: Friday April 7th 10:30AM-11:30AM MST. Click here to join the meeting  Meeting ID: 254 545 452 409  Passcode: zsTivD  Download Teams | Join on the web Or call in (audio only) +1 720-617-3426,,55692973#   United States, Denver  Phone Conference ID: 556 929 73#  Find a local number | Reset PIN

Application Information

The application period for program year 2023 CDBG Public Services will be available from March 24th, 2023, and will close on April14th 2023 at 11:59pm MST (no exceptions). Applicants must register online with Neighborly Software. in order to prepare and submit an application.

There is no limit to the number of applications that an agency may submit, but each project should be submitted as its own application. Applications selected for funding may receive less than the requested amount, depending on the number of applications received and the available funding. By applying, funding is not guaranteed to any agency or project.

Questions?  

For more information about the CDBG programs or applications process please contact the community development division at community.development@coloradosprings.gov