Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program - Blueprint to Build

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program - Blueprint to Build is sponsored by Kansas Department of Commerce (via HUD). This program funds construction for new community centers that support local needs.

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Exporting Programs & Services, Investment, Reshoring Resources for your move to Kansas. Kansas Small Business Office Taxes, Credits, & Exemptions To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards Corporate & Professional Services Food Processing and Manufacturing Energy & Natural Resources Kansas Small Business Office The Blueprint to Build Grant Program offers Kansas communities a streamlined path to developing a new community center.

Cities can choose from three pre-designed blueprint layouts, making the process simpler and more affordable. Get Program Notifications arrow_forward_ios Based on community center selected Remaining project cost after CDBG award Now through Oct. 16, 2026 Benefit Low- to Moderate-Income persons Check qualifications, programs, and more 2026 Pre-Application Now Open!

A pre-application must be submitted and approved by CDBG before an application can be submitted. The pre-application is used to determine project eligibility and readiness before proceeding to the full application stage. Commerce will review submissions within ten days and provide further instructions.

Please discuss your project with CDBG staff before submitting a pre-application. You can contact a project manager at any time or email [email protected] . Note: Cities or counties wanting to build a new community center must apply through the Blueprint to Build program and select from the options available.

However, communities under 1,500 may apply for a new center under the Community Facilities: Large Grants program. Renovations to existing community centers may be eligible under the Community Facilities grant programs. The Blueprint to Build Grant Program is designed to make it easier and more affordable for small communities to build new community centers.

By offering three pre-designed, modern, and energy-efficient blueprints—already paid for with CDBG funds—cities can skip most of the costly design work and long planning timelines. View Blueprint to Build Designs A total of $14 million has been allocated for the Blueprint to Build Grant Program. While some flexibility exists for additional features, major modifications are not allowed.

Minor modifications to the approved design are permitted but must be funded by the applicant and approved by Commerce on a case-by-case basis.

CDBG funds support construction of a community center using one of the three designs, which include: Site specific final design activities and civil engineering, including bid specifications Multi-purpose room with overhead doors and patio access Space for a serving kitchen with fixed equipment Room for a fitness center and telemedicine office Lobby with small gathering area and restrooms Additional gym(s) and/or pool option for medium and large designs All CDBG projects must meet a national objective and involve an eligible activity under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

National objectives are 1) benefiting Low- and Moderate-Income persons (LMI), 2) aid in the prevention or elimination of blight, and 3) meet a need having a particular urgency (urgent need). All activities proposed in applications for the Blueprint to Build Grant Program must meet the national objective of benefiting low- and moderate-income persons with a minimum of 51% LMI beneficiaries.

This can be accomplished either by using HUD census data or by completing an income-based survey. Applicants must receive CDBG approval before starting a survey and follow the approved income-based survey methodology. Grant applications are evaluated for funding based on project need, readiness, impact, sustainability, and matching funds source and availability.

Download the 2025 Blueprint to Build Guidelines for more information on program requirements.

Key considerations include: Demonstrating that alternative solutions were examined to address the facility need At least 51% of all program participants must meet LMI (low- to moderate-income) requirements – which is at or below 80% of the Average Median Income for the county in which the family resigns Communities that have not received a CDBG grant for Community Facilities, Water and Sewer, or Youth Job Training in the past five years will be awarded five bonus points Five bonus points will be awarded if at least 10% of local funding comes from other private donations or foundations grants (not bonds or state and federal agencies) Local funding is required for all CDBG projects, and no project can be funded entirely by grants.

Matching funds can originate from private or public sources, but the application must document that these funds are firmly committed (e.g., a letter of commitment from a bank or other funding source). Examples of matching funds include bank loans, industrial revenue bonds, owners’ equity, contributions from local governments, or grants and loans from economic development entities.

Applicants are allowed to match CDBG funds with other grant funds if that funding is secured in a city/county account by the time the contract is signed. At least 10% of the matching funds must be cash from a local source (i.e., owner funds, city/county cash). Any expenses incurred prior to the grant award are ineligible for reimbursement with CDBG funds.

This includes grant writing, engineering, and architecture. Applicants must submit a pre-application to confirm eligibility before applying for CDBG funding. This process allows us to provide early feedback and address any eligibility concerns before applicants complete the full application, and ensures projects align with program goals and are prepared for funding.

The form requires a brief project description, estimated budget, eligibility status, and readiness to proceed. Commerce will review submissions within ten days and provide further instructions. Only those with an approved pre-application may submit a full application, but pre-approval does not ensure grant funding.

If you are new to the CDBG program, please reach out to us to schedule an initial discussion first. View Blueprint to Build designs: Are communities required to select a Blueprint to Build design for a community center? Yes, communities with a population over 1,500 must apply through the Blueprint to Build program to build a new community center.

Communities with populations under 1,500 may apply for a new community center under the Community Facilities: Large Grants program. Can a community apply for more than one project? Communities may apply for multiple CDBG categories but can only be awarded up to two projects total , with no more than one from a major category.

Major categories include: Community Facilities: Large/Small, Blueprint to Build, Water and Sewer Infrastructure, and Regional Water Implementation. For example, a city can submit applications for a Housing Rehabilitation and a Community Facilities: Large Grants project. However, a city cannot apply for both a Large and Small Community Facilities project.

What is the public hearing process? The local government must hold two public hearings to demonstrate that reasonable efforts have been undertaken to ensure involvement of citizens or citizen organizations throughout all stages of the program.

A notice about the hearing must be published in a local newspaper with the widest circulation, and it must appear at least 5 full days before the hearing —not counting the day it’s published or the day of the hearing itself. These hearings must be held at a time and location convenient to potential or actual beneficiaries, with accommodations for non-English speaking residents and persons with disabilities.

A sample public hearing notice is included in program guidelines. First Public Hearing : Must be held at least 15 days before the CDBG application is submitted, and no earlier than 120 days . The purpose of the hearing is to inform citizens about the proposed project, including its location, total cost, activities, and beneficiaries.

Community members must be given a chance to suggest other project ideas and share their input, and the local governing body should carefully consider this feedback before submitting the application. The total project funding and CDBG amount requested must match what appears in the public hearing notice.

Second Public Hearing : Must be held at the conclusion of the project, prior to close out to inform citizens of the project’s successful or unsuccessful completion, and to obtain input on the grantee’s performance. Is an environmental review always required? Yes, all CDBG-funded projects are federally required to have an environmental review.

The Environmental Determination of Level of Review form must be submitted with the application. This will inform Commerce as to what level of environmental review you will undertake for your project if awarded. Post-award, the city or county must conduct a full environmental review of the project, even for small projects that don’t require construction .

This responsibility cannot be delegated and the cost to conduct the review must be paid with local funds . Project activities may not begin until after Commerce issues the environmental release of project funds. When choosing a site, important factors to consider include: walk-up accessibility, convenient nearby parking, a central location within the community, and preferably a corner lot for increased visibility and access.

Communities that have not received a CDBG grant for Community Facilities, Youth Job Training or Water and Sewer within the past five years will be awarded five bonus points. Securing at least 10% of a project’s matching funds from a private funding source will result in an additional five bonus points on applications.

If your community does not automatically qualify as a 51% LMI (low- to moderate-income) community, an income based survey can be conducted in most circumstances to evaluate the current income climate of the community. A Blueprint to Build community center has the potential to serve multiple communities, particularly in sparsely populated areas.

Be sure to gather input from all involved communities, publish public hearing notices in newspapers that cover each location, and follow all applicable outreach requirements.

See other communities that have received funding in past years The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program requires that each CDBG funded activity must either principally benefit low- and moderate-income (LMI) persons, aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight, or meet a community development need having a particular urgency.

Based on program participants With an LMI (low- and moderate-income) of {{lmi}}%, you will have to survey and provide benefit to an area in your community with 51% LMI. Learn more about the survey process. View LMI Family Income Limits for LMI calculations are from the 2020 Census and LMI by household are from 2026 HUD Section 8.

Final LMI will be confirmed upon application review. Assistance from a professional with CDBG grant experience can help you streamline and strengthen your application. Some or all of the costs to engage help can be covered by your award.

Here are the background documents for the Commercial Rehabilitation grant that will help you apply. 2025 CDBG Blueprint to Build Guidelines (. pdf) CDBG Blueprint to Build Designs (.

pdf) Get notifications for this year and next year Email Ginny Eardley, CDBG Specialist Incentives & Financing, Taxes, Credits & Exemptions, Site Selection, Doing Business in Kansas Infrastructure assessment, community planning, development support, and downtown activation Find a Job, Job Seeker Services, Employer Services Plan your trip to Kansas. Places to visit, things to do. Order a free Travel Guide.

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