Arlington’s Community Impact Symposium Celebrates 50 Years of CDBG Funding Support
The City of Arlington recently celebrated the significant community impact, including affordable childcare, food pantries, and safe senior housing, that the federal Community Development Block Grant Program has helped local nonprofits offer to individuals in need over the past 50 years.
Since 1974, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded CDBG funds to help cities such as Arlington create viable neighborhoods by providing decent housing, suitable living environments, and opportunities to expand economic development. These investments are primarily geared for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. Arlington, now among more than 1,250 cities from across the country receiving CDBG funding, has been a grant recipient since Congress first authorized the program. Click here to learn more about the City of Arlington's Grant Management.
Past and current grant sub-recipients came together Aug. 20 for the City’s inaugural Community Impact Symposium. Leadership from HUD, the City and local nonprofits participated in panel discussions on the CDBG program’s successes and achievements here as well as addressing challenges and the future of the program. The event also included interactive workshops that covered topics like affordable housing and economic development, an awards ceremony recognizing numerous local organizations and their programs, and a trolley tour that highlighted CDBG-funded sites across Arlington.
Savin Ven Johnson, HUD Southwest Regional Director for Community Planning and Development, said Arlington was among 657 cities first awarded CDBG funding in 1974. The fund, which started at $2.5 billion and should be closer to $14 billion if it had kept pace with inflation the past 50 years, is now just at $3.3 billion and serves twice as many communities, Ven Johnson said.
“Back in 1974, people were able to do so much more with CDBG funds. That is the biggest challenge we have. The needs are much greater, but the resources are so limited. You have to so many more things with it that you have to really prioritize, you have figure out what is absolutely most critical. It’s a tough choice to make,” Ven Johnson told participants at the symposium.
Deborah Coppola, Arlington Charities CEO and executive director, participated in a panel discussion and talked about the ways her nonprofit has continuously evolved to meet the community’s needs. For example, the nonprofit launched a Summer Read and Feed program three years ago that provides children with new books and packages of kid-friendly, healthy snacks.
“We were able to start that program with CDBG dollars and we have since found a private partner,” said Coppola, adding that Arlington Charities serves about 150 families a day. “This is a wonderful example of a way for the City to invest in something that makes a difference, that helps families, that we were then able to continue in another way.”
Jessica Parry, City of Arlington Housing Authority housing coordinator, also spoke on a panel and shared stories of how the program has helped older residents with limited incomes who cannot afford to fix issues such as broken air conditioners, roof leaks, or plumbing and electrical issues.
“Sometimes the repairs are so great that it makes certain areas of their homes unlivable. We are able to go in and address those issues and enable the residents to stay in their homes and not have to try to find another place to go,” Parry said.
Participants ended the celebration by taking a trolley tour to learn more about seven locations that have benefitted the community thanks to CDBG funding. The tour included the Alliance for Children facility on Abram Street, which has received $1.9 million in funding since 1991, Big Brothers Big Sisters on West Main Street, which has received $473,000 since 1994, and Arlington New Beginnings near Mount Olive Baptist Church, which has received $461,666 in funding since 1996.
Mindy Cochran, the City of Arlington Housing Authority executive director, said Arlington residents have upcoming opportunities to weigh in on how the City invests its CDBG funds as part of the Consolidated Plan update required by HUD.
“There are so many ways that CDBG can used. Over the next five years, do you need more affordable housing, housing rehab, meals for seniors, childcare, historic preservation? This is the opportunity for you as citizens to get involved and let your voice be heard,” Cochran said.
For additional details regarding the City’s Community Impact Symposium, Community Development Block Brant (CDBG) program, or upcoming consolidated plan process, residents can contact the Grants Management Department at [email protected] to receive notifications about future events and public input meetings.
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