Toledo Celebrates 50 Years of Impact with Community Development Block Grants

The City of Toledo and its partners celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program during an event at the Glass City Enrichment Center. Established in 1974 and administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), this program has been crucial in providing neighborhoods with resources to address issues such as affordable housing rehabilitation, public services, parks and recreation facilities, economic development, financial literacy, and neighborhood blight.

Over the past five decades, CDBG has empowered local governments to address their unique challenges and improve the quality of life for residents nationwide. This funding has enabled cities like Toledo to invest in essential infrastructure, economic development, and social services, contributing to stronger and more vibrant neighborhoods.

CDBG funds can be used for a variety of investments, including:
*Acquisition of real property
*Relocation and demolition
*Rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures
*Construction of public facilities and improvements, such as water and sewer facilities, streets, neighborhood centers, and the conversion of school buildings for eligible purposes
*Public services, within certain limits
*Activities related to energy conservation and renewable energy resources
*Provision of assistance to profit-motivated businesses for economic development and job creation or retention

As Toledo celebrates the achievements of past CDBG projects, it is also focused on the future, committed to leveraging these resources to meet emerging needs and further strengthen the community.

During the current administration, Toledo has received $51.9 million in CDBG funds, averaging $7.4 million per year. This funding has supported City and nonprofit staffing of housing and community development work, and numerous successful projects, including upgrades to the Frederick Douglass Community Center, the construction of the new Wayman Palmer YMCA, the Rooftops Repair program in partnership with Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity, and countless upgrades to City parks and facilities.

"The $51.9 million in CDBG funding during our administration has been instrumental in advancing vital projects across Toledo. This investment demonstrates our commitment to improving the quality of life for our residents and strengthening our neighborhoods," Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said.

Rosalyn Clemens, Director of Housing and Community Development, highlighted the program's achievements and future direction. "We have focused on those goals of our five-year plan, directing CDBG dollars toward direct investments in our neighborhoods and housing, like blight removal and new family housing construction on the former Driggs Diary site" Clemens said.

She further emphasized the innovative use of CDBG resources: "We are now utilizing CDBG resources for a $37 million Section 108 loan pool, a powerful tool that allows us to leverage our CDBG allocation, for catalytic economic development projects like planned improvements to the Swayne Field shopping center in one of our Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas (NRSA)."

As Toledo celebrates the achievements of past CDBG projects, it remains focused on the future. The successes of these initiatives over the past 50 years highlight the program's impact, but the City is committed to continuous improvement and addressing emerging needs.

"The project successes we've recently achieved are a testament to the effectiveness and power of CDBG funding, but much work remains, to improve our neighborhoods," Clemens said.

"We are preparing for the next five-year cycle to ensure that our investments continue to meet the needs of Toledo's communities. We will be focusing on developing our 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and will be listening to and engaging our residents throughout the process, as we set priorities and goals for CDBG funding during the next five years"

As Toledo celebrates 50 years of CDBG, the focus remains on leveraging these resources to create lasting, positive changes in the community. The program's ongoing success highlights the importance of strategic investment and community engagement.

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