CDBG Program

CDBG-CV Info

The City of New Braunfels has been fortunate to receive a special allocation to our Community Development Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19). This allocation was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law 116-136, which was signed by President Trump on March 27, 2020, to respond to the growing effects of this historic public health crisis. The CARES Act provided $243,102 in Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds to the City in April 2020 and in September 2020, the City received an additional $423,819 in CDBG-CV funding. Funds may be used for a wide range of activities that must be associated with COVID-19 and all eligible activities must meet one of the three National Objectives: 1) Benefit low to moderate-income persons, 2) Aid in the prevention of slums and blight, or 3) meet other urgent community needs such as disaster relief. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, Public Services, Buildings and Improvements (including Public Facilities), and Assistance to Businesses (including Special Economic Development Assistance).

As a result of a competitive application process for the first round of CDBG-CV funding (CDBG-CV Round 1), the City received applications from 5 local non-profit agencies for a variety of eligible activities within the Public Services category for a total of $312,025. All applications were reviewed by an internal committee consisting of several City staff members and the City’s CDBG consultant and, as allowable by HUD, it was the recommendation of the review committee that all activities be fully funded with the CDBG-CV allocation and a portion of unallocated CDBG Program Year 2019 (PY19) funding. A Public Hearing was hosted during the City Council meeting on May 26, 2020, and City Council subsequently approved the amended CDBG Program Year 2019 Annual Action Plan, including CDBG-CV Round 1 funding recommendations, during the City Council meeting on June 8, 2020.

CDBG-CV ROUND 1 ALLOCATIONS:

CASA of Central Texas, Inc. for court advocacy services for children: $55,600

Comal County Habitat for Humanity for housing/utility assistance: $136,425

Crisis Center of Comal County for food/shelter assistance: $10,000

Family Life Center for housing/utility assistance: $10,000

San Antonio Food Bank for emergency food distribution: $100,000

After another competitive application process for the next round of CDBG-CV funding (CDBG-CV Round 3), the City received applications from 8 local non-profit agencies for a variety of eligible activities within the Public Services category for a total of $942,779. All applications were reviewed by an internal committee consisting of several City staff members and the City’s CDBG consultant to form funding recommendations. A Public Hearing was hosted during the City Council meeting on January 11, 2021, and City Council subsequently approved another amendment to the CDBG Program Year 2019 Annual Action Plan, including CDBG-CV Round 3 funding recommendations, during the City Council meeting on January 25, 2021.

CDBG-CV ROUND 3 ALLOCATIONS:

Comal County Habitat for Humanity for housing/utility assistance: $54,912

Crisis Center of Comal County for food/shelter assistance: $5,419

Family Life Center for housing/utility assistance: $10,839

Hope Hospice for staff and personal protective equipment (PPE) to serve clients during COVID-19 emergency: $122,482

NB Housing Partners for food and shelter assistance for homeless residents: $230,167

If you have questions concerning the CDBG-CV program, please contact Jennifer Gates, Grants Coordinator, at JGates@newbraunfels.gov or Paula Harper, CDBG Consultant, at paula.cstx@gmail.com.

HUD Income Limits

HUD Fiscal Year 2022 CDBG Income Limits; effective June 15, 2022 
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX HUD Metro FMR Area

 * Extremely Low Income is defined as the great of 30/50ths (60%) of the Section 8 very low-income limit or the poverty guidelines provided that this amount is not greater than the Section 8 50% very low-income limit.

Five Year Consolidated Plan

To receive its annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement grant, the City of New Braunfels is required to prepare a Five-Year Consolidated Plan as well as a One-Year Action Plan. These plans present a strategy and goals for use of the CDBG grant. The plans must meet federal requirements under:

• Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended
• National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended
• Stuart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, as amended

Eligibility

All projected use of funds must be determined eligible in accordance with the following federal regulations:

• 24 CFR Part 570, CDBG Program Final Rule
• 24 CFR Part 92, HOME Program Final Rule
• 24 CFR 576, ESG Program Final Rule

Purpose

The City of New Braunfels’ Five Year Consolidated Plan serves the following functions:

• A planning document for the city, which builds on a participatory process at the grassroots community level
• An application for federal funds under Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) formula grant programs (of which CDBG is one)
• A strategy to be followed in carrying out HUD programs
• An action plan that provides a basis for assessing the community’s performance

Priorities

The City of New Braunfels’ 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan contains key priorities to aggressively pursue on a policy and program basis. These priorities reflect the policies and programs that will best meet the needs within the city, and are listed as follows:

• Decrease Homelessness. Provide funds to support transitional housing. Provide funding to create supportive housing opportunities and fund programs that address the needs of homeless.
• Public Services. Support efforts to coordinate work of social services providers and identify duplication of services.  Fund programs that address the needs of the elderly, victims of domestic violence, youth, and other sub-populations.
• Increase Affordable Housing. Fund activities that sustain or improve the condition of existing housing inventory for low to moderate income households. Fund rehabilitation, repair, and weatherization programs. Fund programs that address needs of low income neighborhoods
• Public Facility and Infrastructure Improvements. Fund public facility improvements that benefit low to moderate income persons and households, persons with special needs, including but not limited to senior centers, homeless facilities, parks and recreational facilities. Fund sidewalks and street improvements.
• Historic Preservation.  Fund public and private activities that address slum and blight. Support efforts to maintain and preserve properties of historic significance in the community. 
• Community and Economic Development. Provide funding for projects that create jobs through community development programs. Support projects that increase economic opportunities in low to moderate neighborhoods.
• Fair Housing. Improve access to community resources. Continue compliance with federal regulations.  
    

Amendments

The City of New Braunfels will amend the Consolidated Plan whenever a substantial change is anticipated. The following are considered substantial changes:   

• Deletion or addition of priorities as described in the plan
• Significant change in the purpose, scope, location or beneficiaries of CDBG funds
• A budget change in excess of $50,000

All amendments to the Consolidated Plan will be preceded by appropriate public notices and public comment periods, as required by federal regulations regarding the change of use of funds.

These priorities are subject to change, at the recommendation of the Community Development Advisory Board to the City Council.

2022 One-Year Action Plan 

October 1, 2022 marked the City of New Braunfels’ 28th year in receiving and distributing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to local nonprofit organizations and other agencies for carrying out the activities and objectives such as those described in the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and Strategy. Through this federal grant funding, the City of New Braunfels supports neighborhood revitalization and community services for low-and moderate-income residents, particularly those persons and areas in most need. 

In the One-Year Action Plan, the city sets forth a specific plan for activities that it expects to fund using CDBG funds during the Program Year (October 1 through September 30). Each of these activities correlates directly with the priorities stated in the Consolidated Plan and Strategy. The City of New Braunfels’ CDBG funding allocation for Program Year 2022 is $438,259.

Activities

CDBG program year activities are outlined in a One-Year Action Plan annually. These activities were selected in accordance with the city’s Citizen Participation Plan and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations governing the CDBG program. 

For each activity, the One-Year Action Plan will include the priority needs addressed, resources to be used, the number of New Braunfels’ residents assisted, the benefits to the community, and the organization designated as having lead responsibility. The City of New Braunfels strives to serve 90% low-to-moderate income level residents with the activities funded by the CDBG program.

Program Year 2022 Funding

Learn more about the Community Development Advisory Committee