- Home
- Government
- Departments
- Community Development & Planning
- Community Development Block Grant Program
Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)
- Year 52 Schedule (subject to change)
- NEW! CDBG Application Addendums to be aware of before applying!!!
- Year 52 Application - OpenGov portal (available Nov 3rd, 2025)
- Year 52 DRAFT Application
- Eligible Activities and National Objectives
- Year 52 Proposal Summary
- Year 51 Schedule
- Year 51 Application - OpenGov Portal (available November 1st, 2024)
- DRAFT Application
- Eligible Activities and National Objectives
- Year 51 Applicant Summary
- Year 51 Action Plan
Public Comment Forms
The department welcomes input from community members throughout the grant process, including two public hearings and a community input meeting.
Public comment forms are available in English
Los formularios de comentarios públicos están disponibles en español
Responsibilities
The Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program provides the basic funding necessary to administer the many housing, public works, economic development, and public service activities which help to further the city’s overall community development objectives. This program is intended to support the city as it continues to grow and improve, and to help serve the most vulnerable members of our community.
Accomplishments
Some of the accomplishments managed through the Community Development Office include:
- Construction of new energy-efficient single family housing and rehabilitation of affordable housing throughout the city’s older neighborhoods.
- Curb re-setting.
- Demolition of hundreds of unsafe and abandoned buildings throughout the city
- Improvements to public facilities such as parks and playgrounds and various city buildings including the Senior Center, Library and City Hall.
- Provision of essential public services ranging from after school programs for youth to assistance to senior citizens to police walking patrols and drug enforcement activities.
- Safety and beautification improvements, including street trees.
- Street and sidewalk improvements along many of the city’s entryways, including accessibility improvements.
Current Programs
Current CDBG funded programs which are carried out by other entities:
- NewVue Communities Small Business Assistance
- North Star Family Services Family Shelter
- Community Legal Aid Homelessness Prevention Program
- YMCA Youth Program
- Board of Health Code Enforcement
- Police Drug Enforcement & Foot Patrols
Community Development Accomplishments
Overview of Community Development and Planning's Accomplishments
2025 Community Development Week Accomplishments
2024 Community Development Week Accomplishments
2023 Community Development Week Accomplishments
2022 Community Development Week Accomplishments
FITCHBURG YEAR 51 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
West Main St. Paving & Sidewalk Reconstruction $ 176,000
City Parks Sign Replacement $ 15,000
Crocker Field Grandstand Rerstoration $ 30,000
Street Outreach $ 20,000
Fitchburg Farmers Market $ 7,000
Spartacus $ 12,000
Fitchburg Community Policing $ 40,000
Mayor’s Energy Fund $ 3,000
Project Learn STEAM Transportation $ 16,500
Family Homeless Shelter $ 10,000.00
Fitchburg Homelessness Prevention Project $ 7,000
Resident Service Coordinator and Activities $ 7,000
One-to-One Mentoring of Fitchburg Youth $ 5,000
Small Business Technical Assistance Program $ 30,000
Fitchburg Downtown Coordinator $ 35,000
Sign & Façade Program $ 60,000
Board of Health Code Enforcement $ 121,000
Building Code Enforcement $ 92,684
Critical Home Repair $ 30,000
CDBG Administration $ 183,967
TOTAL YEAR 51 CDBG PROGRAM $ 921,520
TOTAL ACTUAL FUNDING AVAILABLE $ 1,013,963
Year 51 Entitlement $ 921,920
Program Income (from prior years) $ 950
Reprogrammed Funds (from prior years) $ 91,093
Program Income and Fund Balance
CDBG Housing Revolving Loan Funds: |
|
Anticipated Program Income July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 | $ 47,300 |
Anticipated Fund Balance as of June 30, 2025 | $ 295,000 |
Potential Program Income from July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 | $ 47,000 |
CDBG Business Revolving Loan Funds: |
|
Anticipated Program Income July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 | $ 83,000 |
Anticipated Fund Balance as of June 30, 2025 | $ 280,000 |
Potential Program Income July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 | $ 81,000 |
Fitchburg-Leominster Consortium
Year 51 HOME Action Plan
Year 51 HOME Formula Grant
HOME Consortium funding for Year 51 Program $ 422,717.01
Estimated HOME Program Match (25%) $ 105,679.25
Use of Funds
HOME Program Administration (10%) $ 42,271
CHDO Set Aside (15%) (DH-2) $ 63,407.55
Homeowner and Rental Assistance (75%) (DH-2) $ 317,037.75
Home Program Income and Fund Balance
Anticipated Program Income July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 $ 83,000
Anticipated Fund Balance as of June 30, 2024 $ 280,000
Potential Program Income July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 $ 81,000
CDBG and HOME Five Year Consolidated Plan
The 2022-2026 Consolidated Plan began on July 1, 2022.
CDBG-CV Activities
The City of Fitchburg received $586,047 after the CARES Act passed in March 2020. An additional $435,362 was announced in September 2020.
CDBG-CV Action Plan and Amendments
For more information about CARES Act funding, email Kimberly LeBlanc at kleblanc@FitchburgMA.gov.
City of Fitchburg
CDBG Year 45 Action Plan Amendment
The City of Fitchburg amended its CDBG year 45 Action Plan. This notice serves to Transfer the amount of $23,064.00 of CDBG-CV funds from Business Assistance, and Utility assistance in the amount of $3,800.40 and combine it with NewVue Communities’ Housing Stability Balance of $10,302.73 for use by NewVue Communities for Rental/Utility Assistance.
Enmienda del Plan de Acción del Año 45 del CDBG
De la Ciudad de Fitchburg
La ciudad de Fitchburg propone enmendar su Plan de Acción del año 45 de CDBG. Este aviso sirve para transferir la cantidad de $ 23,064.00 de fondos CDBG-CV de Asistencia comercial y asistencia de servicios públicos por un monto de $ 3,800.40 y combinarlo con el Saldo de estabilidad de vivienda de NewVue Communities de $ 10,302.73 para uso de NewVue Communities para asistencia de alquiler / servicios públicos.
Contractors Wanted
The City of Fitchburg’s Divisions of Housing and Development, is now taking applications from interested contractors in all residential construction trades to participate in a variety of housing and commercial rehabilitation programs funded through the City.
El Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario de la ciudad de Fitchburg esta aceptando aplicaciones de contratistas interesados en todo tipo de oficio de construcción residencial para participar en una variedad de programas de rehabilitación de vivienda y comercio financiado por la ciudad.
Special Business Categories
Recipients of State and Federal funding must report on contracts executed with a variety of different business types, including Section 3, Minority-Owned (MBE), Women-Owned (WBE), and Disadvantaged (DBE) business enterprises.
Section 3 Businesses meet one of three regulatory definitions:
- 51 percent of the business owned and controlled by low- or very low- income persons
- 75 percent of the labor hours performed for the business over the prior three-month period performed by Section 3 workers
- 51 percent of the business owned and controlled by current public housing residents or residents who currently live in Section 8-assisted housing
Register your business as a Section 3 Business here:
https://portalapps.hud.gov/Sec3BusReg/BRegistry/RegisterBusiness
Information about MBE/WBE certification:
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/supplier-diversity-office-sdo
Information about Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification:
https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-disadvantaged-business-enterprise-dbe-certification