CDBG Program Make Adjustments In Response To COVID-19

The Office of Community and Rural Affairs continues to work on a long-term phase of the program and will announce details once they become available.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - Various Community Development Block Grant programs (CDBG) have made adjustments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On Friday, the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) announced updates to these programs, including invoices for open CDBG grants, CARES Act Amendment and Indiana's 2019 Action Plan, 2020 CDBG Round 1, and COVID-19 Response Program. 

Invoices for open CDBG Grants

OCRA has seen a decline in the number of invoices received for open grants. The office requests that invoices be submitted in a timely manner to ensure they are processed and paid promptly. Digital signatures are being accepted. Please contact Grant Services for issues surrounding submitting invoices. 

CARES Act Amendment and Indiana’s 2019 Action Plan

The Hoosier state must revise its 2019 Action Plan to receive funds allocated to the state as part of the CARES Act, per the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Each state agency must work establish how the funds will be used and will have a public comment period for each amendment, which includes a public hearing.

More information will be sent at a later date regarding public hearings and comment periods.

2020 CDBG Round 1

Virtual site visits for submitted proposals will be scheduled between May 11 and May 22. OCRA will return to in-person visits in future rounds. 

• Threshold reviews of proposals will be completed by Wednesday, April 29, and applications will be open in eGMS.
• Due to the revised site visit dates, the application deadline is being adjusted to Sunday, June 7 at 11:59 p.m.
• OCRA’s Community Liaisons will notify communities of any threshold issues by close of business on Friday, May 1.

COVID-19 Response Program

On April 22, Lt. Governor Crouch announced the first 13 recipients of the COVID-19 Response Program, a rolling award process. Additional recipients will be announced each week.

108 Letters of Need were received, totaling an estimated $23 million in requests. In response to the high volume of submissions, OCRA reassigned staff to assist in the prompt submission and review of applications. Due to the overwhelming need, communities may be offered awards for less than their original request.

HUD continues to issue guidance on current programming, and additional sources of funding continue to be allocated through Congress.

As a result, program adjustments may be made. If changes were to impact an application, OCRA will work with the community to determine how best to move forward.

OCRA continues to work on a long-term phase of the program and will announce details once they become available.

Contact your respective Community Liaison or email info@ocra.in.gov with any questions you may have.