CDBG Guidebook: Community Development Block Grant Program FWD

Tom Boland (wgcp@earthlink.net)
Sun, 4 Oct 1998 13:07:02 -0400 

FWD  http://www.handsnet.org/index_show.htm?doc_id=4692&frame_id=1137

CDBG Action Guide Available
October 1998

CCC has a new Action Guide about the CDBG Program. This 56-page action
guide is written for busy low income community leaders and advocates in
straight-forward, non-technical language. It is scribbled by Ed (The CDBG
Geek) Gramlich, who for 23 years, has helped low income groups navigate the
shark-infested waters of CDBG.

At the heart of the Action Guide is an emphasis on how this money ought to
be used in ways to directly benefit low income people. In addition, it
spotlights problems and abuses low income community groups have encountered
in recent years so that you too know what to lookout for.

The material is presented in sections so that readers can pick out what
they need to know without having to read everything:

* First, the CDBG Action Guide gives you some food for thought, suggesting
why you might want to be involved with the CDBG process in your community.

* Then it gets into detail about two hurdles any use of CDBG must clear:
being an "eligible activity" and meeting a "national objective".

* One chapter is about "eligible activities", first giving you an overview
and then going into greater detail if you want it.

* Another chapter explains the four "low income benefit tests" which are
important to know if you want to be able to judge whether your jurisdiction
is complying with the law.

* There is a brief chapter explaining the public participation requirements
that come with CDBG, and an additional chapter summarizing how CDBG fits
into the ConPlan process.

For those who don't know if they want a large reference guide, an 8 page
outline is available.

Limited numbers of copies of "CDBG: An Action Guide to the Community
Development Block Grant Program" are available for free to low income
community groups. {For others, copies are available for $15 (including
shipping). Bulk discounts are available.}

Also Available: HUD's Consolidated Plan: An Action Guide for Involving Low
Income Communities

                            Just call, fax, write, or email:
                            CCC Publications
                            1000 Wisconsin Ave. NW
                            Washington, DC 20007
                            Call: 202.342.0567
                            Fax: 202.333.5462
                            Email: juergensc@commchange.org

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