CDBG Program Information & Applications

Program Information & Applications

See below for specific year program announcements, application materials, and supplemental information specific to the City program. To discuss any future projects you have in mind, or to ask any questions, please contact Courtney Kemp at 207-619-1036.

2026-2027 Applications are now available

Please click on one of the programs to download an application. Links to the applications are available each year in November.

The City program currently offers applications for funding in the following categories:

  • Public Infrastructure CDBG Application 2026-2027
    • Eligible activities would include streetscape improvements, playgrounds, parks, water and sewer lines, infrastructure to support affordable housing development, senior or youth centers, community buildings, and handicap accessibility improvements. Buildings owned and operated by non-profit entities can also qualify for this category of funding if the facility is available to the general public or serves primarily low-moderate income clientele.
    • Please note: We do have a required Expenditure match of at least 10% (Monetary or Labor).
  • Public Service CDBG Application 2026-2027
    • Eligible activities would include administration, operating costs, and program material expenses for childcare, health care, job training, recreation programs, educational programs, public safety services, fair housing, senior citizen services, homeless services, drug abuse counseling, and treatment. The amount of funds available for Public Services is capped at 15% of the annual allocation. Public services must either benefit a low/mod area ("Area Benefit", or servicing a Census Block that is >48.7% low income), a specific group of people that can be certified as low/mod ("limited clientele"), or a "presumed benefit" group, which is a group that is assumed by HUD to be predominately low/moderate-income (such as battered spouses, severely disabled adults, the elderly, or people with AIDS.)
    • Please note: We do have a required Expenditure match of at least 5% (Monetary or Labor).

Low / Moderate Income Areas

This map identifies the Census Block Groups in South Portland where over 48.7% of households are low-moderate income. By meeting this threshold, projects that serve or benefit these areas can qualify for CDBG on an area basis. 

Income Limits

Projects that do not qualify for CDBG on an area-wide basis (do not provide a neighborhood benefit in a low-income area) can qualify for CDBG if they can be documented to show benefit to low/moderate-income households or individuals ("limited clientele"). The current qualifying low/moderate household income limits adjusted for household size are below. Limits represent 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), adjusted for household size.