Eligible Activities

The activities that are eligible for funding under Montana's CDBG Program are limited to those set out by Congress in Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

Usually, the question of the eligibility of an activity is clear-cut and can be resolved by contacting the MDOC CDBG staff. Some activities may involve special conditions imposed by federal law or HUD regulations. Communities can request a copy of the HUD Guide to Eligible CDBG Activities from MDOC to answer any questions regarding eligibility of a particular project or activity.

In selecting activities for a CDBG application, communities should be aware that although an activity may be legally eligible under the federal statute and HUD regulations, it may not be competitive under the guidelines and ranking system established for the Montana CDBG Program. Communities should compare any activity under consideration for a CDBG application with the ranking criteria for that category as presented in the CDBG Application Guidelines before a decision is made to prepare an application or discuss questions they have with MDOC CDBG staff.

Eligible Activities for Planning Grants - Housing and Public Facilities

Funds can be used for the preparation of plans, studies, analyses, or research in the following areas:

  • Community growth policies or strategic plans. CDBG Planning Grants can also be used to update an existing comprehensive plan in order to conform to the new minimum requirements for local government "growth policies" set out by Senate Bill 97 passed by the 1999 Legislature.
  • Capital improvement plans or programs.
  • Preparation of community needs assessments, action plans or implementation strategies.
  • Housing plans, including housing needs studies, housing condition surveys, housing affordability studies or plans, housing project feasibility studies, or the development of housing assistance programs.
  • Neighborhood redevelopment plans, urban renewal plans, analyses of impediments to fair housing choice, and environmental and historic preservation studies.
  • Preparation of plans intended to mitigate adverse effects of construction in areas subject to flooding or other natural hazards, such as earthquakes or wildland fire, or to prepare plans for reuse of vacant industrial areas ("brownfields") for possible redevelopment.
  • Conduct of income surveys necessary to complete a CDBG application.
  • Preparation of downtown revitalization studies. These CDBG planning grants could be used as match for architectural design assistance from the School of Architecture at Montana State University.
  • Preparation of preliminary architectural plans for housing or public facilities projects.
  • Preparation of funding applications for housing or public facilities projects.