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Background
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, established under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, provides federal funding to local governments to support community development in low- and moderate-income areas.
The City of Raleigh (CoR) administers these funds through the Community Enhancement Grant (CEG) program to support public services that improve neighborhoods and serve residents in need.
Note: CEG funds are awarded annually through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process. Funding is reimbursement-based and subject to federal compliance requirements.
Program Purpose
The CEG supports:
- Public service programs benefiting low- and moderate-income neighborhoods
- Innovative services that improve quality of life
- Agencies with the capacity to manage federal grants
No program may receive CEG funds for more than two consecutive years.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Address a HUD CDBG National Objective:
(24 CFR 570.200(a)(2) and 570.208(a)(1), (2)) - Align with the City of Raleigh’s Consolidated Plan Goals
- Propose an activity eligible under 24 CFR §570.201 and not ineligible under 24 CFR §570.207
Threshold Requirements:
- Be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit or faith-based organization
- Serve low-to-moderate-income Raleigh residents
- Demonstrate capacity to meet federal regulations
- Be in good standing with the City (no delinquencies or unresolved findings)
- Provide audited financials if requesting $25,000 or more
- Funding requested must not exceed:
- 25% of total actual operating expenses (last fiscal year)
- 50% of the proposed project budget
Eligible Project Types
Public services as defined in 24 CFR §570.201(e), including but not limited to:
- Employment services (e.g., job training)
- Fair housing counseling
- Education programs
- Services for seniors or homeless individuals
- Childcare, crime prevention, health, or substance abuse services
- Recreational or energy conservation services
Services must be new or significantly expanded.
Example: Expanding a senior meal program to include job training in food preparation may qualify, while maintaining the same meal program would not.
How Grants are Awarded
The Housing and Neighborhoods Department allocates funding through an annual competitive process to nonprofit and faith-based organizations that support services for low-income residents or other qualifying populations.
Community Enhancement Grant Cycle
| Dates | Grant Cycle Stage |
|---|---|
| October |
|
| December | Proposal submission deadline |
| January-March | Review Committee evaluates and scores all proposals |
| March-April | Review Committee recommendations made public as part of the Annual Action Plan process |
| May | Final funding decisions made by Raleigh City Council |
| June-July | Contracting period for awarded grants |
Bookmark this page for updates and resources.
Preparation
To help prospective applicants prepare:
Use the CEG Preparation Tool to better understand requirements and get answers to frequently asked questions.
Note: This is not the application itself.
Start early! Use our preparedness tool and access development support to strengthen your proposal.
Stay Informed:
Subscribe to Community Development News on MyRaleigh Subscriptions to be notified when the next RFP is released.
Other Opportunities:
Explore additional funding through:
• City of Raleigh Arts Grants
• Human Services Agency Grant Program
For more information, please contact ComplianceandPlanningUnit@raleighnc.gov and include "Community Enhancement Grant" in the subject line.
