Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) Program for Rural Texas
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds directly to states, which, in turn, provide the funds to small, rural cities with populations less than 50,000 and to counties that have a non-metropolitan population under 200,000 and are not eligible for direct CDBG funding from HUD. These small communities are called “non-entitlement” areas because they must apply for funding through any of the Texas CDBG programs. The primary objective of the Community Development Block Grant (CDGB) program is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and suitable living environments, and expanding economic opportunities principally for persons of low to moderate income.
Fair Housing Act and Section 3 Information
The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities. Additional protections apply to federally-assisted housing. Learn about the History of the Fair Housing Act, and read Examples of the many forms of housing discrimination.
Who Is Protected?
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of:
Race * Color * National Origin * Religion * Sex * Familial Status * Disability
What Types of Housing Are Covered?
The Fair Housing Act covers most housing. In very limited circumstances, the Act exempts owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, single-family houses sold or rented by the owner without the use of an agent, and housing operated by religious organizations and private clubs that limit occupancy to members.
About Section 3
The Section 3 program requires that recipients of certain HUD financial assistance, to the greatest extent possible, provide training, employment, contracting and other economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons, especially recipients of government assistance for housing, and to businesses that provide economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons. Click on the links below for general information, doing business registry and viewing HUD's opportunity portal.
Planning/Capacity Building Fund
Another important program under the TXCDBG is the Planning and Capacity Building Fund. This fund provides grant money for local planning activities. It has the same eligibility requirements as the CDBG fund. The planning process undertaken with these funds should result in an improved local capacity to identify long and short-term needs and to develop strategies to address identified community needs.
Overview of Role in TxCDBG Application and Award Process
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) administers the non-entitlement portion of the Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) Program funded federally by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The Community Development (CD) Fund is the largest TxCDBG funding category and is available on a biennial basis for funding through an application competition in each of the 24 state planning regions like the Heart of Texas Council of Governments (HOTCOG).
Each state planning region is responsible for ranking CDBG eligible project activities by priority based on the region’s unique needs and stakeholder feedback. These “Regional Priorities” will account for 25% of the total points in scoring applications. Each biennium HOTCOG holds a public hearing for input from the communities on what they say are most important to them in eligible projects. The HOTCOG Executive Committee will set the rankings of eligible projects each biennium.
For eligible TDA TxCDBG project activities that HOTCOG will be prioritizing on March 28, 2024 for the 2025-2026 application cycle, click here.
For current information concerning TDA CD fund, click here.
Contact Dorthy Jackson at HOTCOG today to learn how you can benefit from the CDBG!