Community Facilities: Small Grants

The Community Facilities: Small Grants Program empowers cities and counties to propose CDBG-eligible projects focused on impactful, smaller-scale improvements. With a project cap of $225,000 and a local match of 10%, this program supports essential upgrades such as facility modernization, ADA enhancements, and public safety features. A total of $10.7 million is available for 2025, promoting community engagement and accessibility while ensuring at least 51% of beneficiaries are low- to moderate-income individuals.

The Community Facilities: Small Grants Program offers cities and counties the flexibility to propose any CDBG-eligible facility project, with a focus on smaller-scale improvements that make a meaningful and lasting impact. With a 10% local match and a $225,000 project cap, the program supports cost-effective upgrades such as facility modernization, ADA improvements, public safety features, and park enhancements that help foster community engagement, accessibility, and vibrancy.
Qualifying Projects
A total of $10.7 million has been designated for Community Facilities Grants (both Large and Small) in 2025. This grant program funds projects to increase community engagement, health, connectedness and vibrancy in communities.
CDBG National Objective
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:
benefiting Low- and Moderate-Income persons (LMI),aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blight, andmeet a need having a particular urgency (urgent need).
All activities proposed in applications for the Community Facilities: Small Grants Program must meet the national objective of benefiting low- and moderate-income persons with a minimum of 51 percent 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.

Eligibility

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.Eligible expenses include:
Community Centers and Public Infrastructure: Energy-efficient appliances, minor interior upgrades, public Wi-Fi, kitchen equipment, partitions, solar lighting, water bottle stations, water-saving fixtures, bike racks, minor community center renovations, and small-scale security lighting
Parks and Recreation: Park benches, picnic tables, small playground equipment, drinking fountains
Accessibility and ADA: Minor sidewalk and trail repairs, handrails, automatic door openers, accessible parking signage, small ramps, and ADA upgrades for libraries and restrooms
Public Safety and Emergency Services: Emergency sirens, portable fire extinguishers, minor safety equipment, and storm shelter construction or renovation
Other Eligible Costs: Engineering and architectural fees, administrative expenses. Note: Environmental reviews are paid 100% with local funds

Ineligibility

A city cannot apply for both a Large and Small Community Facilities project.