The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is a federal grant program authorized by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The City of Watertown is an Entitlement Community under the program and receives annual grants to develop decent housing, a suitable living environment, and economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.
CDBG funds can be used to carry out a wide range of community development activities directed toward neighborhood revitalization, economic development, and the provision of improved community facilities and services. Activities that can be carried out with CDBG funds include, but are not limited to: acquisition of property; clearance of deteriorated structures; renovation of housing; construction of streets, sewers and sidewalks; provision of public services; assistance to businesses that provide jobs for low-income persons; and assistance to low-income households in purchasing homes.
Watertown residents have many opportunities to give input on the City’s CDBG activities, including required public comment periods and public hearings that occur during the process of developing various plans and reports. To view any current public comment opportunities, please click the link below.
CDBG Public Comment Opportunities
HUD also requires the City to adopt and follow a Citizen Participation Plan that outlines how the City will encourage public input in the CDBG planning process. The City’s adopted Citizen participation Plan, and all its applicable amendments, are available to view by clicking the links below.
2020 Citizen Participation Plan CARES Act Amendment
As an Entitlement Community under the CDBG program, HUD requires the City to adopt a five-year Consolidated Plan that analyzes community needs, resources, priorities, and proposed activities to undertake during the covered five-year planning cycle. The City must also adopt an Annual Action Plan in advance of each program year, that describes the specific planned uses of CDBG funding for that year.
Following each program year, the City must also submit a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). This report details the progress of all CDBG projects to measure the City’s effectiveness in meeting its described goals in the Consolidated Plan.
Complete archives of the City’s Consolidated Plans, Annual Action Plans and CAPER reports are available to view by clicking on the links below.
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports (CAPER)
As an Entitlement Community under the CDBG program, the City of Watertown has certified that it will Affirmatively Further Fair Housing. This includes publishing a study known as an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI), which the City has undertaken in 2015 and 2020. For the 2020 analysis, the City commissioned CNY Fair Housing to prepare its AI. Both documents are available to view using the links below.
2015 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
2020 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
The purpose of Section 3 is to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by certain HUD financial assistance shall, to the greatest extent feasible, and consistent with existing federal, state, and local laws and regulations, be directed to low- and very low-income persons, particularly those who are recipients of government assistance for housing, and to business concerns which provide economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons.
All subrecipients, developers, contractors, and subcontractors (including professional service vendors) on Section 3 projects must demonstrate good faith efforts to comply with Section 3 regulations, found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 24, Subtitle A, Part 75, and the Policies and Procedures for Section 3 as set by the City of Watertown, NY.
Section 3 Policies and Procedures
Requirements, Acknowledgements & Certifications
Exhibit A - Contractor Section 3 Plan
Exhibit B - Section 3 Validation Contract Form
Exhibit C - Section 3 Worker Self-Certification
Exhibit D - Section 3 Worker Employer Certification
Exhibit E - Section 3 Business Certification
Exhibit F - Section 3 Business Owner Certification
Exhibit G - Section 3 Monthly Compliance Report
Exhibit H - Section 3 End of Project Compliance Report
Exhibit I - Section 3 Clause
