The Conference of Mayors’ is sharing success stories daily on what Community Development Block Grants support in our nation’s cities.

Montgomery, AL

During Program Years 2012 – 2015, the City of Montgomery allocated approximately $4M to the Montgomery Housing Authority for infrastructure improvements at The Plaza, formerly known as Tulane Court.  The dilapidated public housing complex was demolished and rebuilt near Montgomery’s downtown area with 258 units. 85% of these units are reserved for low-income households and are fully occupied. CDBG expenditures for this project to-date totaled $2.28M. Improvements included street, sidewalk, sewer, curb, and gutter.  Total leverage funding for this project was approximately $22M in tax credits, private lending, and other federal dollars.  Six (6) MBE/WBE subcontractors were awarded contracts and over 10,000 Section 3 hours were labored in Phases I & II. 

Winston-Salem, NC

Since 2010, S.G. Atkins Community Development Corporation, a non-profit organization affiliated with Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), has been undertaking redevelopment of the former Boys and Girls Club into a small business incubator and community center in five phases, of which the City of Winston-Salem has provided funding in four.  Thirty-seven (37) start-up businesses and organizations currently call The Enterprise Center home.  Phase 1 of the project included renovation of the second floor plus the roof and parking lot for use as a small business incubator.  Funds included $710,000 in local public funds from the City, $525,000 in federal HBCU funds, and $180,000 through the State of North Carolina, for a total cost of $1,415,000.  Completed 2011.  Phase 2 included the renovation of most of the first floor for use by the WSSU School of Health Sciences. Phase 3 included renovation of the former gymnasium into a multipurpose room that can be used for training classes, community meetings, conferences and other events.  Funds included $209,000 in CDBG funds and $350,000 in HBCU funds, for a total cost of $559,000. Phase 4 included renovation of the lower level into additional space for the small business incubator, another small conference room/computer lab, and other small technology lab spaces.  Funds included $500,000 in CDBG funds, $1,200,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, and $228,079 through the State of North Carolina, for a total cost of $1,928,079. The 5th and final phase included improvements to the kitchen to create a shared-use, licensed commercial kitchen that will provide specialty food and catering businesses time-share access to production facilities, at a reasonable fee, without the excessive cost of establishing their own commercial kitchen.