The Macon-Bibb County Economic and Community Development Department held two sessions of its Annual Funding Workshop for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program on Thursday, October 25, 2018. This year, 70 people from 62 non-profit and neighborhood organizations attended to learn about CDBG funding, and now qualify to submit a funding application for consideration. This was an increase over attendance at previous years’ forums, which shows a heightened interest by groups in helping people in our community.

The CDBG funding application for Program Year 2019 is now available online by clicking here to access the Economic and Community Development website. You must have attended one of the two Funding Workshop Sessions in order to submit an application for consideration.

CDBG funds are provided to Macon-Bibb County from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and to expand economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.

“Over the years, Community Development Block Grant funds have been used to provide agencies with funds to serve the Macon-Bibb County area, such as housing counseling, minor home repairs, after school programs, services for the homeless, recreation improvements, and the list goes on and on,” says Wanzina Jackson, Manager of the Macon-Bibb Economic and Community Development Department. “As funding opportunities are disappearing, the importance of Community Development Block Grant Funding is increasing in our community to help non-profits offset the cost associated with addressing the increased need for services to assist low-and moderate-income residents.”

In the 2017 Program Year, the Department distributed $359,999 in CDBG funding, with $177,999 going for public services and $182,000 going for minor home repair programs. With that funding:

• 1,158 individuals received services;
• 107 homes were repaired;
• 158 birth certificates were requested for employment/housing needs;
• 1,811 hours of family counseling were provided;
• 107 state identifications were renewed for employment/housing needs
• 128 people received education and counseling services about home ownership; and
• 82 dental extractions were conducted for people without dental insurance.