Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the City of Sandy Springs uses its annual allocation of federal funds to support initiatives that are eligible for CDBG assistance. The Community Development department is responsible for the administration of this program.
Consolidated Plans, Annual Action Plans, and CAPERs are now available on the HUD Exchange
Consolidated Plans, Annual Action Plans, and CAPERs are now available on the HUD Exchange. The Consolidated Plans, Annual Action Plans, and CAPERS page provides one place where the approved related documents can be found, making information more accessible to HUD’s customers and partners to support planning and coordination of HUD programs. Plans can be found by grantee, year, and plan type.
2023-2027 Consolidated and Action Plan
The Consolidated Plan is a 5-year plan which describes the City's community development priorities and multiyear goals based on an assessment of housing and community development needs, an analysis of housing and economic market conditions, and available resources. The Consolidated Plan is carried out through action plans, which are adopted annually. Each Annual Action Plan provides a concise summary of the actions, activities, and the specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the Consolidated Plan.
2024 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER)
The Consolidated Plan is carried out through Annual Actions Plans, which provide concise summary of the actions, activities, and the specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the Consolidated Plan.
2020 Amendment to the Citizen Participation Plan
The City amended the Citizen Participation Plan to allow for a more timely response during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have comments regarding the amendments, please email cdbgprogram@sandyspringsga.gov.
2020 Citizen Participation Plan Amendment
Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program
Sandy Springs was granted a Section 108 Loan Guarantee by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a loan advance on future Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocations totaling $2,872,000, on January 24, 2018. An amendment was adopted on the 10-year payment plan to an 11-year payment plan and to store all funds in Truist Bank on March 4, 2025.
The **Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program** (Section 108) provides Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) recipients with the ability to leverage their annual grant allocation to access low-cost, flexible financing for economic development, housing, public facility, and infrastructure projects. Communities can use Section 108 guaranteed loans to either finance specific projects or to launch loan funds to finance multiple projects over several years.
Section 108's unique flexibility and range of applications makes it one of the most potent and important public investment tools that HUD offers to state and local governments. It is often used to catalyze private economic activity in underserved areas in cities and counties across the nation or to fill a financing gap in an important community project. The program's flexible repayment terms also make it ideal for layering with other sources of community and economic development financing including, but not limited to, New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC), Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), and Opportunity Zone equity investments.
Program History
Created by the Nixon Administration in 1974, the Community Development Block Grant Program or CDBG, has been a cornerstone of urban redevelopment for over 35 years.
CDBG was specifically created to meet three National Objectives that were included in the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. Those National Objectives for CDBG require that the program:
- Benefit residents of distressed neighborhoods who are primarily low- and moderate-income;
- Eliminate slums and blight; or
- Meet an urgent community need where other assistance may not be readily available.
At least one National Objective must be met in order to use CDBG funds for projects or programs.
Consolidated Planning for CDBG
The CDBG Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through partnerships with city, county and state governments. Cities and counties with populations over 50,000 participate as Entitlement Communities; states administer the Small Cities CDBG Program and make CDBG funds available on a competitive basis to cities with populations less than 50,000. One of HUD’s requirements for participating in the CDBG Program is that each local or state government develops a plan that describes housing, homeless, community development and other special needs in the community. Sandy Springs completed its first 5-year Consolidated Plan (2008-12) on June 17, 2008. In addition to adopting a 5-year plan, an Action Plan must also be completed that describes how each year’s CDBG funds will be used to meet the goals described in the Consolidated Plan. Sandy Springs’ Consolidated Plan and Action Plans are available for review by clicking the “Reports and Publications” bar at the top of the page.
Sandy Springs CDBG Target Areas
In 2022, following the CDBG regulations, staff analyzed 2021 Census Block Group data and identified eleven Block Groups that met the Area Benefit criteria for CDBG infrastructure projects (24 CFR Part 570.208(a)(1)). In short, Area Benefit criteria require that an infrastructure project funded with CDBG meet the low- and moderate-income (LMI) national objective (there are 3 CDBG national objectives) by documenting that at least 51 percent LMI persons live in a defined area, like a Census Block Group, where an infrastructure project will be completed. Sandy Springs was also identified early in the CDBG qualification process as being an Exception Community, which means that for Area Benefit projects, Sandy Springs must meet a 41.7 percent LMI threshold instead of the required 51 percent.
M12 CDBG Infrastructure Project Update
As described in the 2023 Consolidated and Action Plan, Sandy Springs will be adopting a targeted, multi-year sidewalk improvements project for its CDBG Program. In 2022, a general area was identified for potential sidewalk improvements entered on Roswell and Hope Road.
However, in order to undertake a sidewalk construction project in this area, it was necessary to first identify existing conditions, such as utilities, driveways, curb ramps and other structures so that concept and construction plans could be developed. The Mayor and City Council approved the surveying of an area future sidewalk network improvement. The area identified for surveying in the CDBG Target Areas covers Roswell and Hope Road.
What are the Sandy Springs CDBG Sidewalk Project’s Benefits?
Sandy Springs’ Mayor and City Council adopted the City’s first 5-year Consolidated Plan for the CDBG Program on June 17, 2008. The plan directs the funds received through the CDBG Program for the next 5 years to a multi-year sidewalk improvements program. Residents will soon see existing sidewalks modified to meet ADA standards, which at a minimum will mean new curb ramps with detectable surfaces in certain areas making it easier for the elderly, disabled, visually impaired and those pushing strollers to use the sidewalk. In some areas, residents will also see new sidewalk installed where none currently exists to complete the sidewalk network. This new sidewalk may include curbs, gutters, drainage structures and retaining walls. Brick paving accents and pedestrian lighting will be included as part of the project in certain areas as well to improve the safety and appearance of the network. Completion of Phase II will continue the sidewalk and intersection improvements that are currently underway or already completed along Roswell Road and then work will begin on Hope Road.
When the Roswell Road Multi-Year Sidewalk Project and the Hope Road Sidewalk Project are complete, Sandy Springs residents can more easily and safely walk from their neighborhoods to shopping, MARTA, Morgan Falls Park, North Springs High School, Ison Elementary School and other destinations along Roswell Road. Having the option to walk can reduce traffic, improve air quality and lead to better health through exercise.
Annual Reports
HUD also requires that cities and counties participating in the CDBG Program publish an annual report, called the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). For Sandy Springs, the report is due the last day of September each year as the City’s Consolidated Plan program year ends the last day of June. Sandy Springs follows a July 1-June 30 fiscal year. Each year’s completed CAPER will be posted on this website.
Additional Information
Residents of Sandy Springs who may wish to comment on any of the CDBG planning documents, the CAPER or may have other questions about the City’s participation in the CDBG Program may send email to cdbgprogram@sandyspringsga.gov or call (770) 730-5600.