Community Development Block Grant Program  (cdbg)

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:

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

Community Development Accomplishments

Overview of Community Development and Planning's Accomplishments

2022 Community Development Week Accomplishments

2021 Community Development Week Accomplishments 

2019 Community Development Week Infographic

CDBG Year 48 Process

(July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023)

CDBG and HOME Five Year Consolidated Plan

The 2022-2026 Consolidated Plan will begin on July 1, 2022. 

A virtual public hearing on the draft plan will be held on February 28, 2022 at 5pm. Please RSVP to CommDev@FitchburgMA.gov to attend this hearing.

A 30-day comment period on the draft plan will run from February 28-March 30. A second public hearing will be held on April 25, 2022 for the Consolidated Plan and the Year 48 Action Plan. 

Click here for the draft Consolidated Plan. 

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

CDBG-CV Action Plan and Second Amendment
A public hearing on this amendment will be held on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 5pm. To attend, or for more information, please email CommDev@FitchburgMA.gov.. 

CDBG-CV Third Amendment
A public hearing on this amendment will be held on Monday, May 23, 2022 at 5pm. To attend, or for more information, please email CommDev@FitchburgMA.gov. 

For more information about CARES Act funding, email Cindy Dalton at CDalton@FitchburgMA.gov. 

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

YEAR 47 CDBG ACTIVITIES

(July 2021-June 2022)

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YEAR 46 CDBG ACTIVITIES

(July 2020-June 2021)

Year 45 CDBG Activities 

(July 2019-June 2020)


To view the Year 45 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report
(CAPER), please contact Cindy Dalton at CDalton@FitchburgMA.gov. Comments will be accepted between December 11, 2020 and December 29, 2020.