Community Services Block Grant-Discretionary Awards (93.570)

Program

93.570 Community Services Block Grant-Discretionary Awards

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Administration For Children And Families

Authorization

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act.

Program Number

93.570

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To support program activities to alleviate the causes of poverty in distressed communities which: (1) assist businesses in creating jobs for low-income individuals, i.e., develop employment and business development opportunities for low-income individuals; (2) a better standard of living for rural low-income individuals in terms of water and waste water treatment.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Federal funds awarded under the Secretary's Discretionary Authority may be used for activities that: improve the quality of the economic and social environment of low-income residents by providing resources to eligible applicants, by arresting tendencies toward dependency, chronic unemployment and community deterioration in urban and rural areas; and by addressing needs of water and wastewater treatment in Rural Communities. Community Economic Development grants are awarded to cover project costs for (1) startup or expansion of business, physical improvements, or commercial activities. (2) Capital expenditures such as the purchase of equipment or real property; (3) allowable operating expenses; and (4) loans or equity investments. Expenditures must result in the creation of employment or business opportunities for low-income individuals. Generally, the project must be completed within 36 months for non-construction projects and 60 months for contruction projects. Projects must document public/private partnership mobilizing cash and/or in-kind contributions; and be located in areas characterized by poverty and other indicators of socioeconomic distress, such as high levels of unemployment, or high levels of violence, gang activity, crime, drug use and/or low-income individuals or designation as an Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community (EZ/EC). Rural Community Facilities grants are awarded to provide training and technical assistance to small, rural communities concerning their water and waste water treatment needs. RF grants focus on the development and upgrading of small water and wastewater systems in low-income rural areas. Types of services provided included training of persons responsible for community water and wastewater facilities; assisting communities with problem-solving and planning for facilities; producing and disseminating publications, newsletters, videos, and training manuals about rural waste and wastewater systems; and assisting rural communities in leveraging Federal, State, local, and private sector financing for facilities.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

For Community Economic Development projects, eligibility is restricted to private, locally initiated, nonprofit community development corporations (or affiliates of such corporations) governed by a board consisting of residents of the community and business and civic leaders. This includes faith based community development corporations. For Rural Community Development Activity projects, which is refered to as Rural Community Facilities projects, eligibly is restricted to multi-state, regional private, non-profit organizations that can provide training and technical assistance to small, rural communities interested in safe water and waste water treatment needs.

Beneficiary Eligibility

A project must be targeted to address the needs of a specific segment of low-income individuals or families. The official poverty line established by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, published annually by the Department of Health and Human Services is used as a criterion of eligibility in the Community Economic Development Discretionary Grant program.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with the provisions of Title 45 CFR 74. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Awards are granted on a competitive basis. Announcements concerning the availability of funds, requests for applications, along with application form and assurance documents, are at www.grants.gov. Applications to the Office of Community Services for grants under the announcement should be addressed to: OCS Operations Center 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, Virginia 22209. Applicants are urged to inform and coordinate application submissions with State and local governments where such information and coordination is appropriate or necessary for the success of the program. This program is subject to the provisions of Title 45 CFR Part 74 (non-governmental entities). All applications for assistance under this program must contain: (1) SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance; (2) SF-424A, Budget Information; (3) SF-424B, Assurances-Non- Construction Programs; (4) Certificate Regarding Drug Free Workplace Requirements; (5) Certification regarding environmental tobacco smoke; (6) Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters; and (7) Certification Regarding Lobbying. These must be accompanied by a detailed budget, and a program narrative submitted in accordance with the format detailed in the program announcement.

Award Procedure

The Director, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), will make the final decision on all grant awards. Selection of applicants will be determined based on the review criteria outlined in the program announcement.

Deadlines

Sep 01, 2009 All information and application forms required to prepare a grant are at www.grants.gov.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 90 to 120 days. Generally, solicited grants will be acted upon within 90 to 120 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

From 90 to 120 days. Rural Community Development Activity projects (also referred to as Rural Community Facilities Projects), are awarded for a five year project period with 12 month budget periods.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Generally, Community Economic Development financial assistance awards are made available for periods of 36 to 60 months; Rural Community Facilities financial assistance awards are awarded for 12-month budget periods with a five year project period. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. Semi-annual progress reports, semi-annual financial reports and a final report summarizing the activities and accomplishments of the project in relation to the approved goals and objectives are required by OCS. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised June 27, 2003)," Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit Organizations, Nonfederal entities that expend $500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of this part. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in section .215(a), but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and General Accounting Office (GAO).

Records

Grant recipients are required to keep all financial, business and program reports necessary for program review and audit to insure that funds have been expended in accordance with the regulations, grant terms and conditions of this program. Audits and supporting records must be kept on file for at least 3 years.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: 48 grants were awarded for CED and 9 grants were awarded for RCF. Fiscal Year 2009: 48 grants were awarded for CED and 9 grants will be awarded for RCF. Fiscal Year 2010: It is anticipated that the same number of grants will be awarded for both CED and RF.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 08 $7,860,000; FY 09 est $10,000,000; FY 10 est not reported. (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 08 $31,466,000; FY 09 est $36,000,000; FY 10 est $36,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Up to $800,000 for Communtiy Economic Development and $1,435,344 for Rural Community Development Activities.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Program announcements are posted on the web.

Related Programs

93.593 Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None. OCS Liaisons, stationed in - ACF.

Headquarters Office

Rafael J. Elizalde Division of Community Discretionary Programs, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W, Washington, District of Columbia 20447 Email: rafael.elizalde@acf.hhs.gov Phone: (202) 401-5115

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Specific criteria for selecting proposals for funding are stated in each program announcement.