Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program

Medford’s CDBG Program

The City of Medford receives annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). CDBG provides funding for cities to address the causes and consequences of poverty, and all CDBG activities must primarily benefit low- and moderate-income residents.

Medford’s CDBG & Grants Manager in the Office of Planning, Development & Sustainability administers the City’s CDBG program in accordance with CDBG laws and regulations. The City’s CDBG & Grants Manager, Laurel Siegel, can be reached at lsiegel@medfdord-ma.gov or 781-393-2480.

The City encourages input from low and moderate-income residents, social service agencies, and the public-at-large on the City’s use of CDBG funds. Plans and reports on use of CDBG funds are made available for public comment, and the City will hold public hearings at least twice each year (usually in April and September) to solicit input.

The City of Medford's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) draft 5-Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan for Program Year 2025 (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026) will be available for public review and comment from April 12, 2025 through May 12, 2025. In addition, the City’s updated Citizen Participation Plan detailing opportunities for public participation in the development of plans and reports related to the City’s CDBG funding will be available for public review and comment from April 12, 2025 through May 12, 2025.

Copies of the draft Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, Citizen Participation Plan, and summaries of the plans may all be downloaded using the following links:

Copies may also be obtained at the City’s Office of Planning, Development & Sustainability at City Hall. Comments must be submitted in writing on or before May 12, 2025 to the Office of Planning, Development & Sustainability, 85 George P. Hassett Dr. Room 308, Medford, MA 02155, or to ocd@medford-ma.gov.

There will also be a public meeting with the City Council’s Committee of the Whole to discuss the plans on Wednesday, April 16 at 6:00 pm, and a public hearing to review the plans before the City Council at their meeting on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:00 pm. Both meetings will be available in person and on Zoom. Zoom links will be posted on the City’s event calendar. The City encourages all interested low- and moderate-income residents, social service agencies, and the public-at-large to review and comment on the draft Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, and Citizen Participation Plan, to attend the meeting and hearing, and to provide thoughts and comments on the City’s future use of CDBG funds.

CDBG Reports and Notices

Before receiving CDBG funding from the federal government, the City of Medford develops a five-year strategic plan called the Consolidated Plan that identifies the City's community development needs and goals. For each year during the Consolidated Plan, the City submits an Annual Action Plan to HUD detailing the specific programs, activities, and budget it will use to achieve Consolidated Plan objectives. At the end of each program year, the City completes the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) describing the City's progress toward meeting those goals. These plans and reports are available below, and will be published by the City for public comment before being submitted to HUD for review and approval.

Consolidated Plans and Annual Action Plans
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports (CAPERs)

Consolidated Plans and Annual Action Plans

Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports (CAPERs)

CAPER Program Year 2019, July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020

CAPER Program Year 2018, July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019

CAPER Program Year 2017, July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018

CDBG Requirements and Procedures

Click below for further information about the City’s CDBG program including Benefits to Low- and Moderate-Income Residents; the City’s CDBG Public Services Grants; and Information for Grantees, Subrecipients, and Contractors.

Benefit to Low- and Moderate-Income Residents

Programs and projects funded through CDBG must primarily benefit low- and moderate-income (LMI) people, defined as households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income. Public services programs must document that at least 51% of clients served are LMI. Current Area Median Income limits for Medford are available HERE.

For infrastructure projects, including improvements to roadways, parks and other City facilities, LMI benefit may be documented by considering the income levels of the surrounding area using the LMI Area Map. Medford’s current LMI Area Map can be viewed HERE.

HUD also presumes that certain populations are LMI, allowing programs designed specifically to serve these groups an easier path toward meeting the LMI requirement. These "presumed beneficiaries" include:

abused children;
the elderly;
domestic violence survivors;
people who are homeless;
adults with disabilities;
adults who are illiterate;
people with AIDS; and
migrant farm workers.

The LMI benefit is one of three National Objectives of the CDBG program. The other two National Objectives, which have to do with elimination of slum/blight and urgent needs, are rarely used in the Medford CDBG program.

CDBG Public Services Grants

Each year the City of Medford allocates up to 15% of its CDBG funding to public services grants. Public services are social services administered by nonprofit agencies which directly benefit low- and moderate-income Medford residents.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the City’s Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1 2025-June 30, 2026) is available HERE.
All applications are due by 12:00 noon on Friday, February 28, 2025.
Applications may be submitted through the City’s Neighborly Participant Portal. For assistance with using the portal please refer to the Neighborly Subrecipient Guide.
The City held an information session for interested applicants. Video of that session is available HERE and slides from that session are available here HERE.

Grant Requirements:

Grantees must be existing non-profit organizations.
Grantees must be actively registered with SAM.gov.
All grants are subject to HUD regulations, including the Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations in 2 CFR 200.
CDBG funding may only be used to serve Medford residents.
Grantees must document income eligibility and collect demographic information from program participants, including race and ethnicity.
Grantees must submit quarterly reports on the activities of their programs.
Grants are reimbursement grants providing funding after expenses have been incurred. Reimbursement requests may be submitted as often as monthly and must be submitted at least once every quarter.
Grantees are subject to periodic monitoring by City Staff for compliance with financial recordkeeping, documentation of financial eligibility of program participants, and compliance with other HUD program requirements.
HUD program requirements for the use of CDBG funds are extensive. All interested grantees are strongly encouraged to review Playing By The Rules: A Handbook for CDBG Subrecipients.

All funding decisions are contingent on HUD’s approval of the City’s Annual Action Plan and receipt of funding from HUD.

Information for Grantees, Subrecipients, and Contractors

All grantees, subrecipients and contractors awarded contracts funded through CDBG must register with the federal debarment clearinghouse System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and must provide proof of active status on SAM.gov in order to comply with Federal regulations. Registration is free, though it can take several weeks to become active. If a grantee, subrecipient or contractor does not register, they will not be considered qualified and, therefore, will not be able to contract with the City of Medford for activities funded with CDBG and/or other Federal dollars.

Federal laws and regulations governing the CDBG program are extensive. Activities that generally cannot be funded using CDBG program funds include:

Assistance for buildings or portions of buildings used for the general conduct of government.
General local government operating and maintenance expenses. CDBG activities cannot supplant services or expenses currently paid for by local government.
Partisan political purposes, including voter registration.
Certain equipment purchases.
Entertainment/refreshments - the cost of food, beverages, snacks and any related expenses for utensils, etc.

Grantees, subrecipients, and contractors must also follow other CDBG program requirements. Different activities may be subject to different requirements, including environmental reviews, Davis Bacon wage requirements, Section 3, Build America Buy America, and 2 CFR 200.

Projects and grants are also subject to General Conditions and the City’s Insurance Requirements.

Please contact Medford’s CDBG & Grants Manager with questions about CDBG eligibility and requirements.

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