By Eugene T. Lowe
April 11, 2011

Mayors and their cities are busy planning activities to celebrate the accomplishments of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the week of April 25-30, during the congressional recess, when congressional delegations will be back in their jurisdictions. During National Community Development (CD) Week, mayors and their cities take the opportunity to meet with congressional members, showcase projects and programs, and involve the local community, including local businesses, citizens, and community groups in the week-long celebration.

CD Week was created 25 years ago in an attempt to focus both local and national attention on the numerous and outstanding accomplishments of the CDBG program. The HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program has also come to be included in the celebration.

As CDBG is now being challenged more than ever before, it is critical that all cities make an effort to plan and hold events during CD Week. The House has proposed a cut of 62.5 percent to the program in FY2011, and the Administration has proposed a 7.5 percent cut in FY2012. Both the House and the Administration have proposed to cut HOME by $175 million. The Conference of Mayors policy is that CDBG be funded at $4 billion and HOME at $1.825 billion. A strong CD Week across the nation during April 25-30 will help achieve the policy of full funding for both programs.

For more information on how to plan CD Week activities, review the “2011 National Community Development Week Planning Guidebook” on the Conference of Mayors website, www.usmayors.org. Below are examples from the guidebook describing what communities have done during past CD Week celebrations.

The following are actual examples of activities undertaken by communities during CD Week:

• Nebraska celebrated the 2010 National CD Week through a partnership, which involved the Nebraska Rural Development Commission, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the cities of Omaha, Lincoln, and other community development organizations. The State of Nebraska held an awards program to designate a showcase community that had demonstrated exceptional capacity over the past five to ten years in implementing CDBG through (1) identifying community development goals and strategies; (2) combining local, state, and federal resources to achieve those goals; and (3) by accomplishing major projects with positive impacts on the community. The governor announced the designated showcase community at a ceremony during CD Week.

• During the 2000 National CD Week Campaign, Burlington, Vermont, Mayor Peter Clavelle hosted a CD luncheon with both Senator Sanders and Jeffords.

• In Richmond (CA), the focus was on a graduation ceremony for 17 participants in micro-enterprise business start-ups.

• In Greenville (SC), the Greenville Recreation District, and the Freetown Community celebrated the groundbreaking of a new $600,000 (CDBG funded) community center, which will provide recreation activities, services for the elderly, early childcare, and after'school programs.

• In 2007, Austin (TX), kicked off CD Week with a news conference that included the mayor, city departments, and CDBG subrecipients.

• Harris County (TX), highlighted the results of projects recently completed with CDBG funds through stories from persons assisted with the funds, such as the story of a single mom who purchased a home with assistance from CDBG.