Community Development Block Grant meeting outlines city’s grant spending habits

Tuesday’s meeting on the Community Development Block Grant provided insight into how the city has been using the federal grant’s funds.

The Community Development Block Grant is a federal program that started in 1970 to provide municipalities with federal funds to help low to moderate-income residents. 

Cities across the nation apply for this money through a lengthy application process with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD awards the money based on census data and needs laid out by the city in its application. Once received, local nonprofits and the city can use it for projects that benefit these residents. The Planning Department acts as the city’s grant manager, allocating the funds.

How funds were allocated

The meeting, led by the Planning Department, focused on the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, or CAPER, for this past year. CAPER is a performance evaluation that lays out how the city allocated and used the grant funds from 2024 to 2025.

“We were allocated a total of $871,572,” said Sophie Pratt, the administrative assistant for the Planning Department, during the virtual meeting.

This number represents an increase of over $25,000 from the prior project year of 2023 to 2024.

According to data released by the Planning Department, the Waltham Boys and Girls Club was the nonprofit that received the largest amount of CDBG money, as $264,523 went toward a new HVAC and dehumidifier system for the organization’s pool.

They received this money under the program’s capital improvement category, which includes upgrades to public facilities that primarily benefit low to moderate-income residents.

Funds were also used for exterior renovations to Cardinal Cottage, a historical house located on the Fernald property where affordable housing units are being built under the state’s Chapter 40B program.

Eleven other nonprofits received funds for social service projects, including the Salvation Army, the Middlesex Human Service Agency and Opportunities for Inclusion.

“They were funded a total of $130,935 with these programs, 1,718 people were served, 92% of which identified as extremely low income,” said Pratt.

Context behind the numbers and next steps

According to Pratt, the Planning Department provides income certification forms to nonprofits that receive CDBG funding.

Each nonprofit collects data using its own methods, but Pratt said that they usually use the form during their onboarding process to determine whether clients meet the income requirements.

The Planning Department will consolidate all of this data, including how funds were allocated and how many people were serviced, to include in the CAPER, which is being released on their website on Aug. 13.

Residents will have the opportunity to provide comments and concerns until Sept. 11. After the deadline, the department will send the CAPER, along with the public’s comments, to HUD for review.

Looking ahead

Waltham is expected to receive $850,450 in CDBG funding for 2025 to 2026. Pratt said the department has not yet received this money, but once it does, nonprofits will be able to apply for funds.

“I’m wondering if you are anticipating cuts in the next couple of years,” asked Megan Maloney, the manager of marketing and development for Opportunities for Inclusion, a local nonprofit.

Across the country, the stability of federal funding has been called into question as President Donald Trump has cut budgets of multiple federally funded projects this year.

Pratt said the department has kept in contact with HUD and has not heard of any cuts coming to the program so far.

“We hope to continue as usual,” she said.

Comments can be submitted to the Planning Department in writing or to the email walthamcdbg@city.waltham.ma.us until Sept. 11.