Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Grant (CDBG) 2026 Action Plan Draft Available for Review A virtual public hearing to obtain citizen comments on the draft 2026 Action Plan to the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan will be held Thursday, June 4th, 2026, from 10:00 to 12:00 During this meeting, state agencies will accept oral public comments regarding the allocation of approximately $30.6 million in funds for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and the National Housing Trust Fund (HTF) programs for the 2026 program year beginning July 1. A draft of the 2026 Action Plan to the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan is available here and a copy of the legal notice on the 30-day public comment period and public hearing is available here . What is CDBG? Congress created the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program in 1974 to benefit low- and moderate-income persons, prevent and eliminate conditions of slum or blight, and address other urgent community development needs. AEDC has administered the State CDBG program since 1983, when Housing and Urban Development (HUD) moved the administration of the funds to the states. In Arkansas, the CDBG program is also known as the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program (ACEDP). Who is eligible? Eligible applicants include cities and counties with a population of under 50,000 with a low- to moderate-income (LMI) population of at least 51 percent, or for projects which benefit a targeted eligible clientele. Larger entitlement cities receive their own funding and are not eligible for funds from this program. They include Smith, Hot Rock, North Little Rock, Pine West Memphis. Only cities and counties may apply for CDBG grants. Grants cannot be made directly to non-profit or for-profit groups or individuals. However, cities and counties may apply for projects that will benefit non-profit groups, for-profit companies, or LMI persons. How are the funds distributed? Each year, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) holds public meetings and hearings across the state to obtain citizen input on community needs. Based on that input, the agency prepares a plan to prioritize and distribute the grant funds that are part of its federal CDBG allocation. A draft of the plan is published and made available for public comment. Guidelines and Application Complete information regarding each program’s application and selection criteria will be made available online. Application guidelines will provide specific details on the application questions, deadlines for completing applications, threshold requirements, and any other necessary items. Application workshops will be held throughout the program year. 1. Guidelines 2025-2026 ACEDP Application Guidelines 2. Application General Assistance The General Assistance set-aside is designed to provide cities and counties with the opportunity to apply for grant assistance for a variety of public infrastructure and public facility projects. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission is currently accepting proposals for grant funding under the General Assistance set-aside of the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program. Only non-entitlement cities and counties are eligible to apply. All projects must address a national objective for the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG): benefit to persons of low to moderate-income, elimination of conditions of slum and blight, or assistance in addressing an urgent community need.

Who is eligible? Eligible applicants include cities and counties with a population of under 50,000 with a low- to moderate-income (LMI) population of at least 51 percent, or for projects which benefit a targeted eligible clientele. Larger entitlement cities receive their own funding and are not eligible for funds fr