The Department of Commerce will award $2 million through the Community Development Block Grant – COVID Resiliency (CDBG-CVR) program to enable cities and counties to address issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic when no other funds are available. Applications for the CDBG grant will close July 31st.
Funding for the program was made available through the CARES Act.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Kansas should utilize CDBG-CV funds to modernize facilities owned and operated by small businesses that provide vital services and goods. Funds will be prioritized for for-profit businesses that have a majority ownership by a socially or economically disadvantaged residents.
Eligible activities for the CDBG-CVR program include COVID resiliency improvements for businesses such as:
- Upgrades to remain open and prevent future closures due to community illnesses and public health emergencies
- Technology, hardware, and software upgrades
- E-commerce updates
- Professional development and training
- Other updates that can be directly related to resiliency improvements
Eligible businesses must have at least 51% of their employees meet the low-to-moderate-income (LMI) standards. Cities and counties will apply for the funds on behalf of eligible businesses and then make the funds available, administering the program locally. Non-LMI communities can still qualify for this funding if not an entitlement community. The LMI requirement is determined by the business and not the city.
The Kansas Department of Commerce provides CDBG funds to non-entitlement communities across the state, while entitlement communities receive CDBG funding directly from the federal government. Entitlement communities in Kansas include Wichita, Kansas City, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Overland Park, Topeka, and all of Johnson County. Cities and counties are also ineligible if they have a current balance in in their CDBG Local Revolving Loan Funds account.
For more information on the CDBG-CVR program and to access the application, click here.
