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City of Roanoke

CDBG-CV PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

FY 2020-2021

These instructions are being provided to assist in the submission of proposals in response to the City of Roanoke’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for federal funds involving the Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) Program.

General Information

The City of Roanoke has been awarded supplemental funds through the CARES Act, approved into law in late March. These funds are known as CDBG-CV and are to be used for the direct response, preparation, and recovery of COVID-19 in our community.  The City of Roanoke is seeking applications from qualified private or public non-profits or governmental agencies for CDBG-CV funding for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2020, and ending June 30, 2021. 

The FY 2020-FY 2021 CDBG-CV program priorities that will guide funding decisions are as follows:

• Support for the Homeless and those at risk of Homelessness, including shelter operations
• Workforce Development
• Small business loans/grants for capital or job creation or retention
• Microenterprise Assistance
• Physical/Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services related to COVID-19
• Food Assistance

Additional program guidance can be found by clicking here; the Quick Guide to CDBG Eligible Activities to Support Coronavirus and Other Infectious Disease Response (revised April 6, 2020). Said guide provides examples of eligible activities to support Coronavirus and other Infectious Disease Response, qualifying under the categories of economic development assistance, public service, and building/public facility improvements.

Funding 

Funds will be provided on a cost reimbursement basis. No “up front” or advance uses or expenses will be eligible for funding, and it is highly unlikely that funds will cover 100% of any project or program. All applications for funding must be able to demonstrate that the program/project to be conducted meets federal income requirements that benefit low to moderate income individuals. Additionally, applications must clearly demonstrate project/program readiness or that the project or program that the funding is being requested for will be ready to begin construction or operate and begin providing services immediately after July 1, 2020.

No indirect costs will be allowed.

Please note that should your organization be approved for funding, federal reporting requirements are very rigid, time sensitive, and can be staff intensive; however, are a non-negotiable contract stipulation.

Mandatory Technical Assistance Session

The City will require all applicants to schedule and attend a 30-minute mandatory technical assistance session with the Community Resources Office. The meeting must be held between May 4, 2020, and May 15, 2020, and prior to proposal submission. To schedule a zoom/e-meeting technical assistance session or for questions concerning the RFP, contact Keith Holland, Community Resources Administrator at [email protected].

Environmental Review 

An environmental review is the process of reviewing a project and its potential environmental impacts to determine whether it meets federal, state, and local environmental standards. The environmental review process is required for all HUD-assisted projects to ensure that the proposed project does not negatively impact the surrounding environment and that the property site itself will not have an adverse environmental or health effect on end users. Not every project is subject to a full environmental review (i.e., every project’s environmental impact must be examined, but the extent of this examination varies), but every project must be in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other related federal and state environmental laws.

No funds may be committed to a proposed project prior to release of funds authorization from HUD. If the proposed project involves ground disturbance, demolition, construction, site improvements, or acquisition of property on which such activities will take place you may not take any action except for option agreements, until the environmental review compliance is achieved.

Income Guidelines

All projects must meet an income standard in one of the following ways:

Low/moderate Income Area – Only to be used for Economic Development projects where the business serves a qualified area.   

Low/moderate Income Household/Clientele – The participants in the project are from low-mod income levels (see table below for current figures – effective 6/28/2019) or a special needs populations.  This information must be verified. Special Needs Populations (aka Limited Clientele) include Elderly/Frail Elderly, Illiterate Adults, Migrant Workers, Persons with AIDS, Severely Handicapped/Disabled, Homeless Persons, or Abused/battered Spouses and/or Children. The current income guidelines are as follows:

Roanoke Median Family Income: $76,700 

The beneficiaries of grant-funded activities must reside in the City of Roanoke. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to serve and recruit beneficiaries residing in the two City HUD Funds Target Areas (Melrose-Orange and Belmont/Fallon).

Duplication of Benefits

The CARES Act prohibits CDBG-CV funds for the duplication of benefits provided under other federal programs.  All matching funds, be they public or private, must be identified in the application.

Submissions

The deadline for submission is 11:59 p,m,, Sunday, May 17, 2020.  Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered for funding.  Online submission is required.  Applications can be viewed at https://www.zoomgrants.com/zgf/RoanokeVA_CDBG-CV. All applications must be submitted using the online system.

Requested documents will not be accepted after the deadline.  Failure to submit the documents on time will result in an incomplete application.

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