Community Development Block Grants Program Documents

CDBG Manuals/Plans

Administrative Manual

 

General CDBG Information

Chapter 1 - Introduction & Administration

Chapter 2 - Direct Beneficiary Intake

Chapter 3 - Citizen Participation

Chapter 4 - Financial Management and Reporting

Chapter 5 - Cost Reasonableness

Chapter 6 - Risk Assessment and Monitoring Plan

Chapter 7 - Duplication of Benefits

Chapter 8 - Environmental Review

Chapter 9 - Procurement

Chapter 10 - Contract Management

Chapter 11 - Federal and State Labor Standards

Chapter 12 - Civil Rights

Chapter 13 - Closeout

Chapter 14 - Acquisition and Relocation

Chapter 15 - Planning

Chapter 16 - Local Voluntary Buyout Program Policy

Chapter 17 - Community Rehousing Incentive for Buyouts

Chapter 18 - Demolition

Chapter 19 - Residential Rehabilitation and Reconstruction

Chapter 20 - Affordable Multi-family Rental Recovery

Chapter 21 - Down Payment Assistance

Chapter 22 - New Single-Family Housing Construction

Chapter 23 - Infrastructure

Chapter 24 - Economic Development

Chapter 25 - Public Services

Chapter 26 - Downtown Revitalization

Plans

CURRENT PLANS

DRAFT PLANS

Previous Plans

Archived

Forms

Standard Documents for General Application

Financial

Environmental

Procurement Forms and Templates

Acquisition

Down Payment Assistance

Relocation/Housing Assistance

Contract Management

Labor Standards

Civil Rights

Section 3

Close-Out

Local Voluntary Buyout Program Policy

Community Rehousing Incentive for Buyouts Programs Forms

Demolition

Economic Development

Reporting

Annual

 

NSP Quarterly Reports

B-08-DN-29-0001

2026

2025 

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

 

B-11-DN-29-0001

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

File Upload/Other

Document Submission

To submit program documents, please send files as an attachment to mocdbg@ded.mo.gov. If a file is too large for email, please upload files to the CDBG Box Account., or contact us at 573-751-3600.

To submit a physical copy, please mail to:

Department of Economic Development
PO Box 118
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Other Documents

Open for PUBLIC COMMENT Oct. 14-OCt. 29, 2025 @ 5 p.m.

Missouri Department of Mental Health Recovery Housing Program Annual Performance Plan 

 

Trainings

General Information

Application Training 

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26  

Help & FAQs

General CDBG Questions

1. What is the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)?

The Missouri Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is a federally funded program administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The program provides grants to eligible non-entitlement units of general local government for projects that address local community development needs through improvements to public facilities, infrastructure, economic development and other community development needs.  Examples of eligible projects include:

  • Public Facilities: day care centers, community centers, senior centers, health centers.
  • Infrastructure: street, drainage, sidewalk repairs/improvements.
  • Demolition: Removal and cleanup of dilapidated, unsafe or blighted structures
  • Water/Wastewater: Construction or improvement  to publicly owned drinking water/sewer projects
  • Emergency: Stabilizing urgent need affecting the health and welfare of communities such as leaking sewage, transformer outages, emergency communications device failure
  • Economic Development
    • Industrial Infrastructure – Improvements to publicly owned infrastructure for purposes of creating jobs such as expanding infrastructure to accommodate the expansion of a business to create jobs of which at least 51% of the new jobs are given to LMI persons
    • Downtown Revitalization – façade improvements, bringing buildings up to code

CDBG grants are only awarded to projects which must meet one of the following National Objectives:

  • Benefit low and moderate income (LMI) persons. HUD requires states to ensure that at least 70% of CDBG funds benefit LMI persons over the applicable certification period.
  • Eliminate and prevent blight and slums.   
  • Meet an urgent need, such as responding to local natural disasters.

2. What is the difference between an entitlement community and non-entitlement community?

A non-entitlement community is a city or village that has less than 50,000 population or a county that has less than 200,000 population.  

An Entitlement Community is a city with more than 50,000 in population or a county with a population more than 200,000.  An entitlement community can apply for CDBG funding directly from HUD. 

3. Who is eligible for Missouri CDBG funds?

Applicants must be a non-entitlement city or county.  A certified, non-profit 501(c) (3) organization can be a subapplicant if a city or county is willing to sponsor the application. Projects and programs must benefit low- and moderate-income individuals in CDBG eligible areas. Individual citizens or families are not eligible for CDBG funds. For more information on grants available through MO CDBG, look on the CDBG Opportunities to Apply page or contact our office at 573-751-3600.

4. Can private citizens apply for CDBG grants?

No. Individual citizens or families are not eligible for direct CDBG funds. There may be a program through an entitlement city or county that an individual can apply for such as a presidentially declared disaster program that has specific funding for residential buyout, down payment assistance project, etc. 

5. Can for-profit companies apply for CDBG grants?

No. Only Units of General Local Government can apply for CDBG funds, but non-profit organizations may be a subapplicant for Missouri CDBG grants.

6. Can private for-profit developers apply for CDBG Grants?

No.  Only Units of General Local Government can apply for CDBG funds, but non-profit organizations may be a subapplicant for Missouri CDBG grants.

7. What is a Consolidated/Action Plan?

The Consolidated Plan is a HUD-required five-year planning document that identifies a grantees’ priority needs and establishes goals that will guide the use of HUD funding over the 5-year period. These priorities are implemented through Annual Action Plans, which describe the specific activities and resources the grantee will use each program year to achieve those goals. Missouri’s Consolidated Plan and Action Plan can be found on the Program Documents page under the Plans tab. 

8. Can Citizens participate in the planning/decision-making process around the use of CDBG funds?

Yes.  HUD regulations require grantees to encourage citizen participation throughout the planning and implementation process of the CDBG program.  Public participation helps identify community needs across the state, establish funding priorities and ensure residents have an opportunity to provide input before decisions are made.   

9. How do I obtain CDBG funds?

Eligible non-entitlement local governments may apply for Missouri CDBG funding by submitting an application through an available funding opportunity.  Program guidelines, application material, funding categories, and deadlines are available on the website for most open cycles.  Water/Wastewater and Emergency projects must receive an application directly from Missouri CDBG.

10. Do I need to register in Sam.gov?

Yes. Applicants and other entities, as applicable, must maintain and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) in accordance with federal requirements. Current registration requirements are identified in the Missouri CDBG Application Guidelines and applicable federal regulations.

11. Why is it called a Block Grant?

A “block grant” is a type of federal grant that provides funding for a broad range of eligible community development activities rather than a single, narrowly defined purpose. This flexibility allows states and local governments to prioritize funding for eligible projects that best address their communities’ needs while complying with federal requirements. 

12. Where do CDBG funds come from?

CDBG funding is appropriated by Congress and administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD distributes funds to states and entitlement communities based on a statutory formula that considers factors such as population, poverty, housing conditions, and awards grants to eligible non-entitlement units of general location government in accordance with federal and state requirements.  

13. When do you apply for CDBG?

Application periods for the Missouri CDBG program vary by funding category.  Some programs have established application cycles while others accept applications year-round until funding is exhausted. Current opportunities are available on the Opportunities to Apply page.   

The project development team is available for consultation by email, phone or through the Project Development Office Hours every Wednesday.  The link to join can be found at the top of our Opportunities to Apply page.   

Email: DED.CDBGProjectDevelopment@ded.mo.gov  Phone 573-751-3600.

 

Missouri CDBG Questions Commonly Submitted

General:

1. Where is the current Action Plan for MO CDBG?

You can find the Current Missouri Action Plan on our CDBG Program Documents webpage under the Plans tab.

2. What is expected of me as a subrecipient?

Understanding the roles that need to be held throughout the process and ensuring all guidelines, state policy and HUD regulation are met.  

Definitions:

Administrators - Hired by communities to write and administer the grant. 

Applicant – Units of General Local Government (UGLG)

Collaborator – Added to the grant application so they can help prepare the grant.  This is usually the administrator though could be other city employees who are helping with the grant content.

Contractors: Entities or persons hired to complete part of a project for profit.

Grantee – Missouri Department of Economic Development (MO CDBG) 

Subrecipients – UGLG - also known as a city or county. – also known as the applicant 

3. What to do about suspected fraud with any CDBG stakeholder?

Under Federal Regulations, a Subrecipient or Grant Administrator must report suspicions of Waste, Fraud or Abuse including bribery, conflict of interest(s), or gratuity violations potentially affecting the Federal award in writing in a timely manner to the Grantee. Then the Grantee will do the same to the appropriate Federal Agency for review. Instructions for this are in the Missouri Citizen Participation Plan which can be found under the Plans tab. 

4. Who can communicate with Tribal Organizations for Missouri CDBG projects?

For Missouri CDBG projects, official correspondence with Tribal Organizations must be sent by and signed by the highest elected official of the local government. Grant administrators may be  copied on correspondence but may not conduct official government-to-government communications on behalf of the community.   Missouri CDBG staff also do not communicate with the Tribal Organizations on behalf of the local government.

5. Is it required to include Tribes in public hearing notices?

No. It is not required to include or ask tribes to participate in any public hearing notices unless the Tribe has asked specifically for that information.

 

Common Pre-Application Questions: 

1. Where are the application guidelines?

When you choose a selection under the Opportunities to Apply, there is a link to Application Guidelines under the How Do I Apply? Tab.

2. What should I expect with a Risk Assessment meeting?

A Financial Monitoring Specialist will meet with you to discuss items on the Risk Assessment Checklist. This can be accessed in the Administrative Manual under Chapter along with the Risk Assessment training.

3. Where can I find CDBG approved Section 3 Businesses?

A list is available for download here:  Missouri Office of Administration Office of Equal Opportunity (MBE/WBE): https://apps1.mo.gov/MWBCertifiedFirms/

Phone:  (573) 751-8130

 

Common Post Application Questions:

1. What is the process for ER HUD Floodplains 8 step Decision-Making?

An explanation and how to follow HUD’s process is in Chapter 8 of the Administrative Manual https://ded.mo.gov/media/pdf/chapter-8-environmental-review-v-22

2. What should I put in a Citizen Participation Plan Public Notice?

Guidance can be found here: https://ded.mo.gov/media/pdf/public-notice-template Helpful Hints:

  • Hearing must be posted/published at least two weeks for 15-full days, not including the day of posting/publication
  • Hold public hearing in handicapped accessible location
  • Make sure LEP provisions are provided if they are needed/requested
  • Keep an attendance list at all hearings and meetings, as well as minutes
  • Respond to all requests or complaints addressed at public hearings

3. What is the Environmental Review (ER)?

Environmental Review is a process used to evaluate a project’s potential environmental impacts and ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy ACT (NEPA) and other applicable federal environmental laws before federal funds are committed. This process can be found in Chapter 8 trainings of the CDBG Administrative Manual.  

4. What is a Choice Limiting Action?

A choice-limiting action is any activity that a grantee undertakes, including committing or expending HUD or non-HUD funds, that reduces or eliminates a grantee’s opportunity to choose project alternatives that would avoid or minimize environmental impact or enhance that quality of the human environment. Examples include conducting final design work, awarding construction contracts, and/or on-site work, regardless of how these activities are proposed to be paid.

Choice-limiting actions can often jeopardize the ability to use CDBG funding once they have occurred and may require deobligation and/or repayment.  An UGLG must wait until they receive their Authority to Use Grant Funds (AUGF) before proceeding with a project once awarded.

5. What is the Difference between an Environmental Review and an Environmental Survey?

An environmental review is the process of reviewing a project and its potential impacts to the environment to determine whether the project complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related laws and authorities. An environmental survey provides expertise across projects in real estate, land and construction. It assesses the environmental challenges faced by developers, landowners, and investors.

6. What should I look for when approving/submitting payroll forms?

The following links help with:
Payroll Checklist - Assists in ensuring payrolls include the required content. https://ded.mo.gov/media/pdf/payroll-checklist

Payroll Review Compliance Template - Assists in comparing the actual rate paid on payrolls to the state and federal prevailing wage rates.

https://ded.mo.gov/media/file/payroll-review-compliance-template

7. How should I manage files for Monitoring and throughout the life of a project and which documents should I be keeping?

Use the monitoring checklist in Forms under Closeout in these links:

CDBG Annual Monitoring Checklist - All Sections 

https://ded.mo.gov/media/pdf/cdbg-annual-monitoring-checklist-all-sectionsor 

CDBG Annual Monitoring Checklist - DR-MIT

https://ded.mo.gov/media/pdf/cdbg-annual-monitoring-checklist-dr-mit 

*Make sure forms are filed immediately and keep all documents and receipts pertaining to the project.

8. How do I determine if an entity is a Subrecipient or Contractor?

Use the questions in the Subrecipient Vs. Contractor Excel document listed under Chapter 4 https://ded.mo.gov/cdbg/program-documents. Choose the Training tab.

9. How do I fill out an RFF?

You can watch an explanation of this form at 03:13-05:31 in the training video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZhXUTjD3hg  

10. How do I fill out an ACH-EFT?

You can watch an explanation of this form at 01:43-03:12 in the training video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZhXUTjD3hg

 

Closeout and After Closeout Procedures:

1. How long do I need to keep my files and documents after closing a project?

The record retention policy states to keep files for 3 years after a program/project is closed with HUD.

Program Specific:

2. What should I expect in the Acquisition and Relocation Process?

The following training provides guidelines for this type of program:

Video - CH 14 Acquisition and Relocation  youtube.com/watch?v=OuwraEOk3HQ&feature=youtu.be
Slides - Ch 14 Acquisition and Relocation (Acquisition on slides 15 – 24 and Relocation slides 30 – 40) https://ded.mo.gov/cdbg/program-documents  Training tab.

3. What should my plan for relocation look like?

A subrecipient can create their own plan or use the state plan provided here: Chapter 19 - CDBG-DR Homeowner Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Policy v2.0  youtube.com/watch?v=8CJjsSEUxO0&feature=youtu.be

4. How long do I need to monitor an infrastructure project with LMI job creation?

Monitoring for LMI job creation needs to continue for 2 years after closeout of project is completed.