The City of Evanston’s Housing and Community Development Act Committee (HCDA) will be accepting applications for 2016 Community Development Block Grant funds for Public Facilities & Infrastructure projects and Housing programs through ZoomGrants, our online grants application and management system. CDBG funds are allocated annually for capital improvement projects and housing programs that serve primarily income-eligible individuals and families.
This information does not apply to applications for CDBG Public Services or Mental Health Board funding for social services programs. Information on that application process may be found on the City of Evanston website at www.cityofevanston.org/grantapplications.
There are separate ZoomGrants applications for Public Facilities and Infrastructure and Housing:
1. Public Facilities & Improvements. Applications will be accepted from nonprofit entities and the City of Evanston for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation (including removal of architectural barriers to accessibility), or installation of public improvements or facilities that serve primarily low and moderate income residents and are either publicly owned or owned by a nonprofit and operated so as to be open to the general public.
2. Housing. Applications will be accepted from
a. Nonprofit entities and City of Evanston for housing rehabilitation programs to rehab privately-owned housing in Evanston that is occupied by income eligible households (HH), defined as existing income-eligible owner-occupied 1 & 2 unit properties, and investment properties of 2 or more units. Single-family homes, townhomes or condos must be owner-occupied with HH income ≤ 80% of the area median; with 2-flats, one unit must be occupied by a HH with income ≤ 80% of the area median; for buildings with 3 or more units, 51% of total units must be occupied by HHs with incomes ≤ 80% of the area median.
PLEASE NOTE: applications from nonprofit organizations to rehab specific residential properties they own will not be considered at this time.
b. City of Evanston for Code Enforcement program in the CDBG Target Area to help maintain safe and sanitary housing and improve living conditions for low and moderate income residents.
The application is a two-stage process in ZoomGrants. Both applications may be accessed on the City’s website at www.cityofevanston.org/grantapplications as of NOON on July 6, 2015:
1. PRE-APPLICATION. New applicants need to create a login and ZoomGrants account for their organization, including contact information; returning CDBG applicants should use their existing ZoomGrants account. The Pre-Application requires very basic information about your organization and the project or program for which you are requesting funding.
2. Non-City of Evanston applicants: to be considered for funding, a representative of your organization (staff, board member or other volunteer) must attend one of the pre-application orientation meetings scheduled for July 7, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. in Room 2402 or July 8, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 2404 of the Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave, Evanston, at which additional information will be provided. Sign-in is required.
3. ALL APPLICANTS MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE PRE-APPLICATION IN ZOOMGRANTS BY 4 P.M. CDT ON FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2015. The Pre-Application will be reviewed to establish eligibility for CDBG funding and determine the universe of applicants to facilitate planning of the application review process. Pre-Applications will be approved for a full application unless determined to be ineligible. Applicants will be notified via an email from ZoomGrants if they are approved or denied for a full application by noon on July 22; those approved may begin work on their application immediately following notification.
4. FULL APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED IN ZOOMGRANTS BY 4 P.M. CDT ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015 in order to be considered for CDBG funds.
5. Applications will be reviewed by the HCDA at public meetings in September 2015. Applicants will be notified of the date their application will be reviewed on or about August 2, 2015.
6. CDBG funding recommendations will be made by the HCDA at a public meeting on September 29, 2015 at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers at the Morton Civic Center. All applicants for CDBG funds are expected to attend.
7. CDBG funding recommendations will be included in the City’s 2016 Action Plan, a draft of which will be published for the 30-day public comment period on or about October 2, 2015. The Action Plan will be submitted to Evanston City Council for approval at its meeting on November 9, 2015 prior to its submission to HUD on November 15, 2015.
If your organization plans to apply for either Public Facilities & Improvements or Housing funding, please email Sarah Flax at sflax@cityofevanston.org and include the date of the Pre-Application Orientation meeting you will attend to facilitate planning.