Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Missouri's CDBG program funds infrastructure, facility, and economic development projects in small communities to benefit low-to-moderate income residents and address urgent local needs.
Funder: Missouri Department of Economic Development
Due Dates: July 31, 2026 (FY2026 CDBG Competitive Cycle full application deadline, 5:00 p.m.)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards up to $500,000–$1 million per project; varies by category and local match requirements; project periods generally 2–3 years.
Summary: Supports infrastructure, community facility, and economic development projects in small Missouri cities and counties to benefit low-to-moderate income residents.
Key Information: Only non-entitlement cities and counties in Missouri are eligible to apply; nonprofit organizations may participate as subapplicants with local government sponsorship.
Description
The Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program, administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, provides federal funding to non-entitlement cities and counties for a wide range of community development initiatives. Eligible projects include improvements to infrastructure (such as water, sewer, and streets), enhancements to public facilities (like community and senior centers), demolition of unsafe structures, downtown revitalization, and economic development activities that primarily benefit low-to-moderate income (LMI) residents or address urgent health and safety needs.
The CDBG Competitive Cycle, the primary annual funding opportunity, allows communities to propose projects across several categories, including Community Facilities, General Infrastructure, and Demolition. Additional CDBG categories (such as Industrial Infrastructure and Emergency grants) may have separate or rolling deadlines.
The program is designed to be flexible to meet the unique needs of Missouri’s small communities, but all projects must meet a federal “National Objective,” such as benefiting LMI persons, eliminating slum and blight, or addressing urgent community needs.
