Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development

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CDBG Planning Grants

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) Community Development Building Grant (CDBG) Planning Grant program is designed to aid localities with the greatest community development needs in creating clearly articulated strategies for addressing their needs. Throughout the planning process, significant participation from citizens is expected.

Planning Grant assistance is available to Virginia Community Development Block Grant Eligible Localities. $500,000 is available for Planning Grants and requests for assistance are accepted January through September of each year, or until all funding is obligated.

There are six categories of Planning Grants:

Project Planning Grants
Project Planning Grants of up to $25,000 are available for needs analysis and prioritization, preliminary design, and strategy development activities in preparation for a future Community Improvement Grant proposal. Planning Grant activities should be oriented toward the development of products which directly relate to a future Community Improvement Grant project. These products should detail community development problems and present realistic solutions for treatment of these problems. All Project Planning Grant recipients must submit complete Community Improvement Grant proposals following completion of all planning activities, unless otherwise negotiated with DHCD.
Business District Revitalization – Project Planning Grants
Because thorough preparation for Building District Revitalization (BDR) construction projects is necessary to ensure the desired community outcome of improved overall economic vitality, DHCD offers a tiered grant process for this project type. It often takes a number of years of appropriate planning and development efforts for these projects to be successful, and the following grant levels are designed to recognize and accommodate this.
Community Needs Assessment/Economic Assessment Planning Grants
Community or Economic Assessment Planning Grants of up to $10,000 are available for a locality to conduct a single objective general needs analysis, and prioritization of community or economic conditions and future direction.
Regional Project Planning Grants
Project Planning Grants of up to $40,000 are available for a regional effort of more than one locality for needs analysis and strategy development activities, in preparation for a future Community Improvement Grant (construction) proposal. Regional projects that demonstrate a clear and significant economic impact are eligible for up to $50,000 in planning grant funds. These projects will require a 20 percent local match.

Telecommunication Planning Grants
Telecommunication planning grants are available for future system development and support or implementation efforts. Funds may be utilized to:

•	Assist in promoting awareness of potential CDBG eligible activities and gauging stakeholder interest;
•	Create a management team of potential user groups to oversee the creation of a Telecommunications Plan;
•	Conduct surveying efforts to document the eligibility of future telecommunication planning and implementation efforts for CDBG funding;
•	Conduct informational and training programs; and
•	Conduct informational and training programs; and

In order to access CDBG funds for telecommunication implementation, a locality must have completed a community-based telecommunications plan. Up to $25,000 per project is available for Telecommunications Planning Grants.

Community Organizing Planning Grants
Community Organizing Planning Grants of up to $10,000 are available for activation and organization of community residents to develop strategies for future social and physical improvements.

Citizen participation is the central purpose of these Planning Grants and should result in an organized, informed community which has reached consensus on a practical vision of the future, and has the capacity and options available for future community improvement.

More information can be found in the Planning Grant. Localities interested in CDBG Planning Grant assistance should be aware that there is a two step process to obtaining a funding award.

Step One: Interested localities must submit a response to the VCDBG Planning Grant Prospectus. DHCD will review this response and notify the locality of specific actions that must be taken to secure an award of Planning Grant funding.

Step Two: DHCD will invite localities that have provided adequate evidence of local readiness and capacity and project eligibility to submit a proposal in accordance with the VCDBG Planning Grant Proposal Format. No unsolicited proposals will be accepted by DHCD.

For further information concerning the above program, refer to the VCDBG Program Design, or contact: PMOCDBG@dhcd.virginia.gov or (804) 371-7068.