• This workshop is directed particularly to new administrators and is intended to help foster understanding about TxCDBG requirements, why they are important, and how they fit into the grant management processes.  (TDA-GO procedures will be addressed, but are not primary purpose of the workshop.)
• Two sessions are offered, each covering the same material over a two day period.
• Prior to attending training, all participants are expected to have read the current TxCDBG Project Implementation Manual, and related resources.
• This training is an opportunity for in-person learning.  It is not required for administrator certification.  TDA recommends that participants plan to take the Administrator Certification Test for the coming year in the weeks following the workshops.
• There is no cost to attend, and registration is required for planning purposes.  The registration links can be found on the TDA website Training page.
• While priority will be given to current administrators with two years or less experience in TxCDBG grant management, all are welcome to register.  If registrations approach capacity, TDA will contact participants that must be placed on a wait list.

• 2023-2024 Community Development Fund (CDV)
• 2023 Downtown Revitalization Program, including Main Street Set-Aside (CDM)
• 2023 Colonia Fund Construction Program (CFC)

All applications must be submitted through the TDA-GO online grant management system.  If you have prepared application materials and have NOT yet begun entering the information into the system, we encourage you to begin immediately.  TDA staff is available to assist with any issues that you encounter with user accounts, data concerns, error checks, digital signatories, etc. through 5:00pm on Wednesday May 3.

• For technical assistance with system access or login processes: tda-go@texasagriculture.gov
• For technical assistance with the content of the application: CDBGapps@texasagriculture.gov
• While the system will accept applications until 11:59pm, TDA staff will not be available to respond to technical assistance requests submitted after 5:00pm on the application due date.

Citizen Participation

To be eligible for consideration, applications must document the citizen participation as described in the Application Guide.  These requirements include:

• Public hearing, conducted on or after August 1, 2022;
• Resolution by local governing body authorizing submission of the application – this resolution must be passed after the public hearing; and
• Notice of application availability for public review, published/posted no later than April 28, 2023.

Signatory Resolution

TxCDBG applications and grant agreements require a resolution from the local governing body authorizing specific individuals and/or positions to take action on behalf of the community.  TDA provided a sample resolution that can be used for all open grants in TDA-GO.  This resolution must be adopted prior to the application due date.    Only those named in the resolution will be permitted to take action in TDAGO on behalf of the community.

SAM Registration

TxCDBG applicants must demonstrate an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) to be eligible for funding.  Current policy requires evidence of an active registration to be submitted with the application to be considered complete.  To extend additional flexibility, TDA is willing to consider additional time for communities currently in the SAM registration/renewal process if the application includes:

• A narrative describing the Applicant’s efforts to register or renew its registration, which have been ongoing since at least February 1, 2023, and requesting additional time to complete the process; and
• Screenshots or other documentation of those efforts to complete the registration or renewal.

Beneficiary Documentation

Each application for TxCDBG funding must include clear documentation of the persons served by the project for each benefit area.  This documentation must be substantially complete at the time the application is submitted and include a clear explanation of how each Benefit Area is determined.  For the 2023 applications, TDA will consider allowing Applicants to submit clarifying information that also includes minor corrections for beneficiary data that would be improved with technical assistance from TDA.

• TDA may in its sole discretion determine that the beneficiary documentation provided is both substantially complete AND would be improved to be more consistent with TDA interpretation of the service area with minimal corrections.
• Beneficiary documentation will be considered substantially incomplete and cannot be corrected for:
  • Failure to document 51% LMI persons.
  • Failure to document 80% response rate.
  • Use of LMISD data for a project where a survey is required.
  • Survey corrections that require new questionnaires to be completed after the application deadline.
  • Survey corrections that are more than “minor” – TDA will consider both the number of questionnaires involved and the percent of beneficiaries not accurately accounted for to make this determination.
• The work requested in the submitted application will NOT be adjusted to account for otherwise incomplete beneficiary documentation.
• TDA will not accept “placeholder” applications with poor documentation to be corrected at a later date.

2021-2022 Community Development Fund
The Community Development Fund is the largest fund category in the TxCDBG Program. This fund is available on a biennial basis and funds projects in each of the 24 state planning regions. Although most funds are used for Public Facilities (water/wastewater infrastructure, street and drainage improvements and housing activities), there are numerous other activities for which these funds may be used.
For CD Application Guide, click HERE

2021-2022 Colonia Fund: Construction program
This competition directs funding to unincorporated border communities that lack basic infrastructure. The federal colonia set aside is intended to meet basic human needs in qualifying colonia communities.
For CFC Application Guide, click HERE

2021 Downtown Revitalization Program
This competition provides for improvements in downtown areas to address blighted conditions and encourage local economic development. The program includes a set-aside for Main Street communities, and most commonly funds sidewalk improvements and related accessibility issues.
For DRP Application Guide, click HERE

Application Workshop
The first of several webinars to introduce and provide technical assistance for these application cycles will be held as follows:
Thursday, November 19, 2020
1:00 pm (Central)
Link to join the GoToMeeting platform will be posted to the TDA website, HERE
Registration is not required prior to the meeting

• Applications for all three competitions are due on May 3, 2021.
• Apublic hearing is one of the first steps in the grant process, and we encourage communities to begin immediately to include public participation in the grant selection process. With coordinated timelines, all three programs can be discussed in the same public meeting and certain tasks related to application preparation can be coordinated.
• However, please remember that each project must stand alone and cannot depend on completion of a separate project in order to be successful.
• Applications will be accepted through TDA’s upcoming grant management system, called TDA-GO!
• We are very excited to see this opportunity taking shape – the system will go live for applicants’ use after the first of the year. Training and technical assistance will be available to assist with the transition to this format.
• The period before the system is released should be spent in project development – public participation, selection of administrative and engineering service providers, cost estimates, collection of beneficiary documentation, etc.
• Information about TDA’s Pre-Qualified Administrative Services procurement process can be found HERE. The list of service providers that participate in this process is updated periodically.
• Application guides have been reformatted to be more user-friendly.
• Fund-specific information is presented in Part I of each guide.
• Standard program requirements are presented in Parts II and III, and do not vary between the fund categories.
• Additional information on the TxCDBG program and HUD requirements remains available for reference either within the document and appendices or in other materials posted to TDA’s website.