Community Development Block Grant Funding

The City of Berkeley receives an annual award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund local community development activities, called a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The City identified several activities to spend their CDBG funds on in the Five-year Consolidated Plan, including to support projects to improve public facilities. Learn the process for applying for public facility improvement funds below and by referencing slides from the CDBG Workshop. 

Notice of Funding Availability

The City of Berkeley is currently accepting applications for the Public Facility Improvement program. The current amount of funding is approximately $150,000. This amount will be updated on this website until funds are exhausted. 

Read the full Notice of Funding Availability

Applications are reviewed on a monthly basis until all funds are exhausted. Take the steps below to apply (see more details):

• Ensure your organization and project meet the eligibility guidelines listed below 
• Apply online using City Data Services by the first Monday of each month
• The Housing Advisory Commission (HAC) will consider your application during their meeting in the following month, usually held on the first Thursday of the month. For projects under $200,000, the HAC will recommend to the City Manager to enter into a contract for the proposed projects
• For projects over $200,000, Council will need to provide approval, which may take an additional two to three months. 

Eligibility

Public facilities must be public owned or owned by a nonprofit. The facility must serve low- to moderate-income community-members.

Public facilities may include centers for seniors, persons with disabilities, youth, and child care centers, community centers, homeless shelters, housing for people with special needs, libraries and health clinics.

In addition to public facilities, eligible projects may include improvements to buildings that serve people with special needs, including: nursing homes, convalescent homes, shelters for victims of domestic violence, shelters and transitional facilities/housing for the homeless, halfway houses for run-away children, drug offender or parolees, and group homes for the developmentally disabled.

Apply online with City Data Services

Apply for funding online using City Data Services. Please refer to the schedule in the NOFA Announcement for more information on the application process and timing. 

New applicants

If your agency does not currently receive City funding, go to City Data Services, and log in with the following user ID and password (case sensitive):

• User ID – BERPF 
• Password – BERPF 

Once you log in, you will see a short form that collects some basic information. Complete and submit the form to obtain a unique user ID and password that you will use to submit your application.

Repeat applicants

If you are a current user of the City’s online reporting system, go to City Data Services and log in using your existing user ID and password. Click on the “Apply” button on the main page to begin your application. For technical issues with submitting data via City Data Services, please contact them via the “Help with this page” button on their website.

For further information and assistance

If you have any questions, require assistance in submitting the application or need a disability-related accommodation, please contact Mary-Claire Katz, Health, Housing & Community Services Department at (510) 981-5414 or by email: mkatz@berkeleyca.gov