The Community Development Block Grant Program: Discretionary Grant Funds Not Always Given to the Most Promising Small City Programs

Under the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant program, nonmetropolitan communities receive discretionary grants in accordance with an application rating and approval procedure. Two primary rating factors are: (1) the extent that the project supports the expansion or conservation of low- and moderate-income housing; and (2) the extent that the project is designed to benefit low- and moderate-income families.