City accepting block grant applications

Groups and organizations operating within the city can now apply for 2024 Community Development Block Grant funding, according to Mayor Steve Noble.

The Office of Community Development is now accepting CDBG applications. Examples of eligible programs and services and a list of threshold criteria are included in the application packet.

In 2024, Kingston will only be accepting applications for Public Service Programs, and per federal guidelines, funding must be for either a new program or a significantly expanded program, an announcement said.

“We are hopeful to get a wide variety of applicants this year and encourage all eligible organizations to join an informational session or reach out to the Community Development office,” Noble said in a statement. “We are also currently looking for members to serve on the Community Development Advisory Board. This board is a great way to serve your community and help us decide how these federal funds are administered.”

“As an Entitlement Community and HUD awardee, we are fortunate to be able to use these funds to help our community and residents through activities that may otherwise be unattainable,” said Mandy Bruck, director of Community Development, in a statement.

Three public informational sessions will be held for applicants to discuss eligible programs, processes and application requirements, the announcement said.

New and previous applicants are encouraged to attend at least one informational session.

Kingston’s Office of Community Development receives an annual CDBG Entitlement Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The city anticipates being awarded approximately $650,000 in CDBG funds for 2023, and of that amount no more than 15% is allowed to be used to fund program services, the announcement said.

Applications can be found at https://bit.ly/3T4PpmT.