Serving Indiana’s rural communities through technical, financial, and personal assistance.

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs

To work with local, state, and national partners to provide

resources and technical assistance to aid rural communities in shaping

their visions for economic development.

Community Liaisons Community Liaisons work proactively with

Indiana’s rural communities and their leaders by providing resources and technical assistance.

They are strategically placed throughout the state and are committed to meeting the needs of rural Indiana.

They assist communities and their leaders to generate creative solutions.

Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)

Indiana administers federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). OCRA uses these funds to provide grants to small cities, towns, and counties with populations of less than 50,000 residents for community improvement projects.

These federal funds are used to implement a variety of activities for housing and community development projects.

Listed below are some of the grants OCRA offers through the CDBG program: Economic Development Grants; Health and Safety Projects; Infrastructure Projects; Quality of Life Projects; and Urgent Need Grants.

Community Focus Funds (CFF) Awards are available to units of local

government. Two competitive funding rounds per year. Maximum grant amount cannot exceed

$600,000. Required local match of at least 10% of the total

project cost. Projects must benefit low to moderate income

persons or eliminate slum/blight.

Planning Grants (PL) Awards are available to units of local

government. Monthly non-competitive funding cycle. Maximum grant amount cannot exceed $50,000. Required local match of at least 10% of the total

project cost. Projects must benefit low to moderate income

persons or eliminate slum/blight.

Economic Development (CEDF) Aspects of fundable economic development projects:

Creates/retains jobs for low to moderate income persons;

These jobs must be 51% low to moderate income;

Types of projects: Land acquisition; Clearance and disposition; Provision of infrastructure; Micro-enterprise; and Job training.

CDBG Disaster RecoveryAppropriation 2

What kind of projects are eligible:Wastewater/Drinking Water ProgramStorm Drainage Improvements

ProgramEconomic Development Program Emergency Services ProgramDowntown Revitalization Program

Wastewater & Drinking Water Improvements

Approved projects with SRF and/or USDA-RD water and environmental programs

Non-Competitive Applications accepted April 17th

Projects/applications will be evaluated using the following criteria: The importance of the project to post disaster recovery

of the applicant; The percentage of low-to-moderate income persons

served; The relative economic distress of the applicant.

Economic Development Programs

Non-Competitive Applications accepted April 17th

Projects/applications will be evaluated using the following criteria: The importance of the project to post-

disaster recovery of the applicant; The percentage of low-to-moderate income

persons served.

Storm Drainage Improvements

Due June 12, 2009 Awarded on July 31, 2009 Projects/applications will be evaluated using the following

criteria: The importance of the project to post-disaster recovery of the

applicant; The percentage of low-to-moderate income persons served; The percent of grant amount in relation to applicant’s annual

budget; The relative economic distress of the applicant; Applicant ranking on the OCRA Rurality Index.

Community Development Programs

Due July 31, 2009 Awarded on September 25, 2009

Includes Emergency Services & Downtown Revitalization Projects/applications will be evaluated using the following

criteria: The importance of the project to post disaster recovery of the applicant; The percentage of low-to-moderate income persons served; The percent of grant amount in relation to applicant’s annual budget; The relative economic distress of the applicant; The rurality of the applicant.

Indiana Main Street Using economic development, redevelopment, and

historic preservation tactics to help individuals, businesses, and organizations strengthen the centers of their cities and towns.

Indiana Main Street’s Four Point Approach: Organization; Design; Promotion; and Economic Restructuring.

Contact OCRA

Indiana Office of Community and Rural AffairsOne North Capitol, Suite 600Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

800.824.2476www.ocra.IN.gov