BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The North Dakota Department of Commerce has announced 12 entities as recipients of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the 2021 fiscal year.

CDBG provides financial assistance to eligible units of local governments in the form of grants and loans for public facilities, housing rehabilitation and economic development projects. The primary beneficiaries of these projects must be very low and low income individuals.

Examples of projects funded by CDBG in the respective emphasis areas are:

• Housing – housing rehabilitation of very low and low income homeowner units and rental units within a particular area.
• Public facilities – water and sewer projects, removal of architectural barriers, fire halls, ambulances, etc.
• Economic development – cities and counties receive funds to loan/grant to businesses which create jobs for low income persons.

Grants were awarded to various communities including Epping, Velva, Rocklake, Rolla, Fordville, Manvel, Coleharbor and Carson, and to Rolette and Bowman counties.

The City of Medina is being awarded $115,000 for a city water project and the City of Steele is awarded $75,000 for a multi-family housing rehabilitation project.