2026-2027 Community Development Block Grant

The City of Walnut Creek is soliciting proposals for its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This program, funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), aims to foster viable urban communities by supporting projects that benefit low- and moderate-income (LMI) residents. As an Entitlement Community under HUD’s designation, Walnut Creek receives an annual allocation based on a federal formula that considers population, housing, and poverty indicators. The funding is administered through multi-year cycles in alignment with the City’s Consolidated Plan, which outlines priority community development needs. The current RFP focuses on selecting projects for the initial 2-year cycle under the 2025–2030 Consolidated Plan, covering FY26 and FY27. Proposals are especially encouraged for housing rehabilitation activities, such as grants or loans to assist LMI households in maintaining safe, livable housing. However, proposals for other CDBG-eligible categories including public facilities, infrastructure, and economic development are also welcomed. Eligible infrastructure and facilities projects may include construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing, community centers, childcare facilities, parks, and accessibility improvements for disabled individuals. Economic development activities may involve job training and placement services, small business support, and neighborhood revitalization efforts such as storefront improvements. All proposed activities must align with federal CDBG regulations and meet at least one national objective: benefit to LMI persons, prevention of slums or blight, or addressing urgent community needs. Only nonprofit organizations, public entities, or community-based organizations may apply. For-profit entities and individuals are not eligible. Applicants must document their ability to administer CDBG-funded projects, including experience, organizational capacity, and compliance with federal regulations. Applications must also include proof of SAM.gov registration and a recent financial audit. New applicants are encouraged to request a pre-application meeting to review eligibility, expectations, and application steps. At least three references from similar past projects are required, and full disclosure of any past legal or contractual issues is mandatory. Proposals must be submitted through the City Data Services (CDS) portal no later than 5:00 PM on March 24, 2025. Incomplete or late submissions may be rejected unless the City decides otherwise. The application form must be completed thoroughly, including all required attachments. Clarifications may be requested during the evaluation process. Successful applicants must enter into a written grant agreement and demonstrate adequate insurance coverage, including liability and workers' compensation as applicable. Proposals will be evaluated based on threshold eligibility, community need (45% of score), program administration capacity (35%), and grant administration capacity (20%). Scoring will also take into account financial stability, program impact, and the extent to which proposals address the City’s identified priorities. The City reserves the right to conduct applicant interviews and request additional documentation. Top-scoring applicants will be recommended to City Council for final approval. The application process opens on January 31, 2025, with a final submission deadline of March 24, 2025. Questions may be submitted by February 28, 2025, and responses will be posted by March 7, 2025. Interviews may be conducted around March 19, 2025, and grant awards are expected to be announced by April 4, 2025, subject to City Council approval. The grant performance period is anticipated to begin on July 1, 2025. Projects not selected for FY26 funding may be considered for FY27, pending availability of funds.

Align proposal with the Foundation’s focus areas and demonstrate organizational capacity and community impact potential.