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.
El Paso County, Colorado is considering committing U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds, under the Community Development Block Grant program, “Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974,” as amended, to undertake a project known as the El Paso County, Widefield Community Park Improvements Phase II. The proposed project will take place within Widefield Community Park, located along Drury Lane. The specific elements of this proposed project include the installation of two ADA-accessible picnic pavilions, ADA sidewalks, ADA ramp playground access, the replacement of playground’s safety rubberized surfacing, and ADA sidewalks improvements to the main entrance. Construction will disturb dirt and concrete installation has the potential to adversely affect the associated floodplain and wetland located within the boundaries of the park.
The proposed action, if implemented, would impact approximately 17 acres of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), reference FEMA Map 08041C0952F panel 952 of 1300 and potential to impact approximately 5.35 acres of a Freshwater Emergent Wetland, as classified by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s National Wetlands Inventory (NWI). This wetland is classified by the NWI as a PEM1Cx, (Palustrine system, emergent class, persistent subclass, seasonally flooded water regime, excavated special modifier). These notices have been combined in accordance with 24 CFR §55.20(b)(1). The purposes of this notice are to: (1) inform the public of this potential consequence and (2) request comments concerning: (a) potential adverse impacts of the proposed project on the SFHA and wetland, and (b) alternative sites or courses of action that might avoid or reduce these impacts. Details concerning the proposed project are available for examination/copying at The El Paso County Economic Development Department, 9 E Vermijo Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the proposed project to 9 E Vermijo Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. The proposed actions may be viewed online at https://admin.elpasoco.com/economic-development/cdbg/. All comments must be received no later than August 17, 2019. Comments may be submitted in writing to the address above, or called in to 719-520-6249.
All comments, questions, and requests can be directed to Chloe Lomprey, Community Development Analyst, on behalf of Crystal LaTier, Economic Development Executive Director and Certifying Officer pursuant to 24 CFR Part 58.
Widefield Park Floodplain and Wetland Maps
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 tentatively scheduled for October 2019.
Public notices will be posted at least 24 hours in advance at the El Paso County Centennial Hall Building, located at 200 S. Cascade Avenue in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
A fair housing event took place on June 13, 2019, at 12 pm. If you would like a copy of the agenda or additional information, please use the contact information at the bottom of this page.
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 2018 CDBG Reporting Schedule below. Additional questions can be directed to CDBG staff using the contact information at the bottom of the page.
2018 CDBG Reporting Schedule
Reimbursement Request Form
Quarterly Subrecipient Report
Program Income Report
Annual Federal Expenditure Report
2018 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
