The Community Development Department is committed to making the City of Columbia and its neighborhoods a better place to live, work and play. It is through the efforts of this Department that the City strives to provide safe, decent, affordable housing, a suitable living environment and economic opportunities specifically for low to moderate income individuals and communities.

Community Department administers Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME), Section 108 Guarantee Loan and Economic Development Initiative (EDI), and the Economic Development Administration (EDA). These funds come from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and primarily benefit the low and moderate income (LMI) population (neighborhoods) within the City of Columbia. In addition, the City received Stimulus dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (CDBG-R) and Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) to provide a surge to the economy during this economic downturn. These funds help agencies provide assistance to the homeless and those at risk; entities that will assist with stabilizing neighborhoods seeing the effects of foreclosure and abandoned homes; and improve infrastructures, as well as job creation.

Funding provided by the federal government is leveraged with lending institutions dollars to make available low-interest housing loans through Housing Loan & Residential Services. The Community Development Department focuses on three areas of community quality: Neighborhood Services; Business Services and Housing Loan & Residential Services.

For additional information, please contact the Department at (803) 545-3950 visit our office at 1225 Lady Street, Ste 102, Columbia, South Carolina.

2012 - 2013 Notice of Funding Availability (CDBG) Public Notice (pdf)

2012 - 2013 Notice of Funding Available/Request for Application (CDBG) (pdf)

2012 - 2013 CDBG Application 

2012 - 2013 CDBG Application (Neighborhood Improvement Grants)

CDBG Regulations (24 CFR Part 570) (pdf)

The Consolidated Plan is the City’s 5-year plan and application for funding from HUD for the following grant programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). The Consolidated Pan addresses three basic goals for the use of funding in programming for loan and moderate income families: 1) Provide decent housing 2) Provide suitable living environment, and 3) Expanding economic opportunities.

The Consolidated Plan along with citizen input is used to prepare the Community Development Annual Action Plan and the Citizen Participation Plan to identify and prioritize local needs in affordable housing, neighborhood development, economic development, public services, and public works. This plan is updated each year.

2010-2014 Consolidated Plan (pdf)

2010 CAPERS Draft Executive Summary (pdf)

DRAFT 2011 Annual Action Plan (pdf)

CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CAC)

The Citizens Advisory Committee for Community Development is an organization of neighborhood representatives appointed by City Council. The CAC makes important recommendations for the use of CDBG, HOPWA, and CANDO funds, advises the Mayor and Council on the needs of neighborhoods, reviews amendments and makes appropriate comments on policies. CAC meetings are open to the public.

2010-2014 Citizen Participation Plan (pdf)

PUBLIC NOTICES

12-22-2011 - Substantial Amendment to 2011 Annual Action Plan - CDBG Budget Revision for Bellfield Center and P&R Community Building Projects

11-04-2011 - Notice of Funding Availability (CDBG) FY 2012-2013/Request for Applications

11-01-2011 - Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact and Notice of Request for Release of  Funds (Bellfield Cultural Arts Center Renovations Project) 

09-23-2011 -  Substantial Amendment to 2011 Annual Action Plan - CDBG Funding Reduction

Community Development Bid