News and USCM Action Alerts

Check out our action alerts along with allocations for cities based on FY10 and the proposed 7.5% cut for FY12.

Video from the CDBG Economic Impacts Report Release

Watch the press conference where the United States Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, and National Association of Counties present the report, "Community Development Block Grants: Impacts on Metro Economies", written by Global Insight. This event took place on March 16, 2011.

Mayoral Action from Across the Country

See what Mayors are doing across the country to prevent cuts to CDBG.


Hilo Mayor Billy Kenoi, USCM Vice President Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, and Second Vice President Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter meet with Senator Daniel Inouye to discuss CDBG. (March 11, 2011)

What Can YOU Do To Help Save CDBG

With the proposed cuts, the most important thing you can do is get in touch with your U.S. Senator and let them know exactly what will happen if CDBG funding is decreased by any percentage. Use the tools on this page to figure how much funding you stand to lose. A good example is the Proposed Cuts PDF submitted by Mayor Kautz and the City of Burnsville.

In general, it's important to explain what Community Development Block Grants do. Take members of Congress and your citizens out to see projects that could not have been done without CDBG. Introduce constituents who have jobs in your neighborhoods because of CDBG. Show them the vital services that will disappear if CDBG is eliminated. And engage your Governor, who receives 30 percent of the CDBG funding to hand out to smaller communities, in this campaign.

Remember, there are many new members of the House and Senate who may never have heard of CDBG, and may view it as just some program that helps local and state government. But we know that CDBG funding does not stay in city hall – it helps the private sector create jobs and infrastructure, and helps community organizations provide desperately needed services.

With that in mind, now more than ever is the time to submit an Op-Ed (such as the Mayor Cluck's) or host a town forum, as Boston Mayor Tom Menino and Newton Mayor Seti Warren did. Understanding the impact each dollar has and your community's ability to leverage that dollar will help in the fight of preventing cuts.

Lastly, share your message and good news with us! We highly encourage you to Tweet or share the news on our Facebook page where we'll retweet, share, and of course, add it to our collection of positive stories here in our CDBG Action Center.