Welcome to the El Paso County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) main page. Our program’s vision is to develop viable communities by ensuring a range of affordable housing choices, supporting necessary services and public infrastructure, strengthening the local economy, and mobilizing community resources to enhance collaboration and community partnerships. View the tabs below to learn more about our program and the funding cycle.
10/16/2019
El Paso County
9 East Vermijo
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719-520-6249
These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by El Paso County.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or about October 29, 2019, El Paso County will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the release of Community Development Block Grant funds under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, to undertake a project known as Widefield Community Park Improvements Phase II for the purpose of making multiple enhancements to the park, including two ADA picnic pavilions, trash cans, BBQ grills, an updated and expanded playground, and installation of ADA sidewalks. The total estimated project cost is $175,000; $165,000 of the Community Development Block Grant funds will go towards this project.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
El Paso County has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment; an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), therefore, is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at El Paso County Economic Development Department located at 9 East Vermijo, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 and may be examined or copied weekdays, Monday – Friday 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. The Environmental Review Record may also be found online at https://www.onecpd.info/environmental-review/environmental-review-records.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to El Paso County. All comments received by October 29, 2019 will be considered by El Paso County prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments may be submitted to the address above or to chloelomprey@elpasoco.com.
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
El Paso County certifies to HUD that Crystal LaTier in her capacity as Economic Development Department Executive Director consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows El Paso County to use Program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will accept objections to its release of fund and El Paso County’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of El Paso County (b) El Paso County has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to HUD at 1670 Broadway Street Denver, Colorado 80202. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
Chloe Lomprey, Community Development Analyst, on behalf of Crystal LaTier, Economic Development Department Executive Director, El Paso County
CDAB meetings are currently held in the Economic Development Conference Room located at 9 E. Vermijo Avenue in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The most recent CDAB meeting took place on Wednesday, April 17 at 12:30 pm. The next CDAB meeting is scheduled for October 16, 2019 at 12:30 pm.
Public notices will be posted at least 24 hours in advance online.
The El Paso County CDBG Program participated in the 2019 Health & Education Fair in Calhan, Colorado on Saturday, September 14 in the Whittemore Building on the El Paso County Fairgrounds in Calhan, Colorado. Please check back in early 2020 for information regarding 2020 Fair Housing events.
El Paso County’s CDBG program year runs from April 1 – March 31.
The 2019 application cycle closed on Friday, February 15, 2019. Please check back in December 2019 for information regarding the 2020 application cycle.
The low to moderate income map link below is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development based on ACS data. For current recipients of funding and future recipient, this link is an excellent tool for scouting prospective locations for projects.
Nationwide LMI Maps (To use map, zoom in to El Paso County and select only the ‘LMISD by Block Group’ option. Click on Block Groups to view Low/Mod percentages. For more assistance, contact our office.)
El Paso County LMI Maps (These maps are zoomed in to specific Census Tract Block Groups in El Paso County that qualify for LMA benefit. For more information or specialty maps for persons with disabilities, please contact our office.)
CDBG funds can be awarded to local jurisdictions and non-profit organizations but not private individuals. Agencies with experience administering federal funding resources will likely have adequate internal controls and policies to successfully implement a CDBG funded project.
After confirming your agency’s eligibility for funding, please consider that the following guidelines must be met:
Please contact our office directly to discuss the eligibility of a specific program or project.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has outlined three clear objectives to be fulfilled by the CDBG program. Every project funded by CDBG funds must accomplish one of the three following objectives: address an urgent need, mitigate slum/blight conditions, or benefit persons of low-to-moderate income. Additionally, mitigating slum/blight conditions or benefiting persons of low-to-moderate income can be accomplished through several different avenues. A visual breakdown of these objectives is presented below.
In addition to meeting a national objective, all projects funded by the El Paso County CDBG Program must meet at least one of the goals outlined in our 2017-2021 Consolidated Plan. Please note all goals denoted with an ‘AFH’ in reference to our Assessment of Fair Housing are considered high priority goals. An in-depth listing of all goals is linked below.
Before El Paso County CDBG Program projects may begin expending funds, they must first be approved by the Board of County Commissioners and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Projects are selected and submitted for approval on an annual basis, with the final approval from HUD usually occurring in July or August each year.
Click the links below to see current and past projects, as well as a few highlighted projects that have made an exceptional difference in our community.
Whether you are a first-time recipient of El Paso County CDBG funding or a federal funding old timer, this page will help your agency keep your project in compliance with all associated requirements.
All funding applicants are highly encouraged to review the documents below in advance of submitting their application. These links will help you prepare an application that addresses the needs of the CDBG program as well as develop a deeper understanding of what to expect when developing a potential project.
Playing by the Rules Handbook CDBG Subrecipients
Sample CDBG Subrecipient Agreement
Not sure which reports to submit, or when they’re due? Start off by reviewing the 2019 CDBG Reporting Schedule below. Additional questions can be directed to CDBG staff using the contact information at the bottom of the page.
2019 CDBG Reporting Schedule
Reimbursement Request Form
Quarterly Subrecipient Report
Program Income Report
Annual Federal Expenditure Report
2019 Program Year Project Completion Report
2019 CDBG Income Limits
In order to receive CDBG entitlement funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, El Paso County CDBG staff must prepare a series of annual and five-year reports for the federal agency’s review. All applicable reports for the current program year and consolidated plan cycle are posted here as they become available.
2017-2021 Assessment of Fair Housing
2017-2021 Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Plan
2017 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan
2017 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER)
The El Paso County CDBG Program is committed to affirmatively furthering fair housing within our jurisdiction as delineated in our 2017-2021 Consolidated Plan goal AFH4. Our program hosts two free and open to the public fair housing events each year, which are posted under the Events and Notices tab as they are scheduled.
Below is a collection of free resources relevant to the Fair Housing Act, including agencies that can assist individuals in filing fair housing complaints.
2017-2021 Assessment of Fair Housing
Regional Housing Needs Assessment (2014)
HUD’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Website
United States Department of Justice: Civil Rights Division
Colorado Division of Civil Rights
On April 1, 2009, El Paso County became an “entitlement community” and was awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to carry out a wide range of community development activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, economic development, and providing improved community facilities and services.
The Community Development Advisory Board (CDAB) reviews matters of importance regarding the CDBG program and makes recommendations to the El Paso County Board of Commissioners concerning community development issues and use of CDBG funds.
The CDAB is comprised of 12 voting members, including a representative from each of the municipalities participating in the El Paso County Community Development Block Grant Program and a representative from each of the commissioner districts. Participating municipalities advise the Board of County Commissioners who they have designated as their representative. Commissioner district representatives are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Members are appointed for five-year terms, with terms initially staggered, and are limited to serving two consecutive five-year terms.
Please review the Events and Notices tab for upcoming CDAB meeting dates and times.
Chloe Lomprey
Community Development Analyst
9 E. Vermijo Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719 520 6249-phone
719 520 6288-fax
chloelomprey@elpasoco.com
