Community Development Block Grants  

The Primary Objective of the CDBG program is the development of viable urban communities, principally for low to moderate-income persons, through decent housing, suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunity.   To achieve this objective, communities can receive CDBG funds to undertake several types of activities that benefit low to moderate income individuals or remove slums and blight. 

 

 

Overview

 

Northampton County’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is an annual grant program that serves 36 of the County’s 38 municipalities (the Cities of Bethlehem and Easton receive funding directly from US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)).  Beginning this Federal Fiscal Year, Northampton County qualifies as an “Entitled Urban County” under the HUD’s CDBG Program, increasing the total amount of CDBG funding for Northampton County to $1.84 million – a increase of over $650,000 compared to FY 2006.  In addition, the number of areas throughout the County that HUD considers eligible for projects, or “block groups”, will increase from 13 to 31 under the new federal program, meaning that more areas of the county directly qualify to receive funding for eligible services like housing rehabilitation and flood improvements.  A map outlining the eligible block groups in each municipality is available using the links below.

 

In order to apply for the program, the County must meet several requirements, including the submission of a Five-Year Consolidated Plan to HUD that outlines our county’s needs and plan to address those needs.  The Consolidated Plan was created by soliciting input from a variety of interested entities, including municipalities, Councils of Governments, housing advocates, social service providers, and other County residents.  The result of this process was the creation of the roadmap for how Northampton County allocates its CDBG funds through Fiscal Year 2011.    An application was submitted this summer for a project that will begin October 1, 2007.  The Consolidated Plan and 2007 Action Plan are available at the following link:

 Consolidation Plan and 2007 Action Plan
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Municipality Maps

Allen Township	Hellertown Borough	Portland Borough
Bangor Borough	Lehigh Township	Roseto Borough
Bath Borough	Lower Mt Bethel Township	Stockertown Borough
Bethlehem Township	Lower Nazareth Township	Tatamy Borough
Bushkill Township	Lower Saucon Township	Upper Mt Bethel Township
Chapman Borough	Moore Township	Upper Nazareth Township
East Allen Township	Nazareth Borough	Walnutport Borough
East Bangor Borough	Northampton Borough	Washington Township
Forks Township	North Catasauqua Borough	West Easton Borough
Freemansburg Borough	Palmer Township	Williams Township
Glendon Borough	Pen Argyl Borough	Wilson Borough
Hanover Township	Plainfield Township	Wind Gap Borough