Hennepin County uses the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help meet the goals and priorities in the 2020–2024 Consolidated Plan in suburban Hennepin County cities.
The Cities of Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Minneapolis, and Plymouth receive their CDBG directly from HUD. On behalf of the Urban County, Hennepin County allocates some CDBG program funds directly to certain cities (Brooklyn Park, St. Louis Park, and Maple Grove), and awards the remainder through two competitive requests for proposals (RFPs) in the first quarter of each year--one for social services, and one for capital funds.
Resources and additional information on the eligible activities for CDBG can be found on the HUD Exchange on the HUD Exchange webpage.
The HOME-CDBG Guidebook also provides a helpful overview of eligible activities and projects using CDBG.
Social service activities
The social services set aside is intended to fund social service activities that provide quality housing, ensure a suitable living environment, and expand economic opportunities for low and moderate income families and individuals in suburban Hennepin County. Eligible social services include (but are not limited to) emergency assistance, tenant advocacy, and family, youth, and senior services.
Capital projects
The capital projects RFP will fund activities such as rental or owned housing rehabilitation, public facilities and infrastructure improvements, property acquisition for affordable housing or neighborhood revitalization, and other community development activities serving low and moderate income households.
Only activities that will occur in “Consolidated Pool” cities are eligible for funds through the Capital Projects RFP. Consolidated Pool cities, for-profit or non-profit developers or providers, or the County may apply on their own or in partnership.
View the map of Consolidated Pool cities (PDF)
In 2025, an anticipated $400,000 in CDBG will be available via the CDBG Social Services RFP, and approximately $746,000 will be available via the CDBG Capital Activities RFP. The RFPs will be released in January 2025 with proposals due in February.
Expanding the impact of CDBG
The 2024 RFP will be structured to expand the impact of the CDBG program to meet the needs of residents across suburban Hennepin County. All CDBG activities must meet national objectives and meet a priority need of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan for suburban Hennepin County. Those needs are:
- Preserve and create multifamily rental opportunities, with the highest priority given to units affordable to households with incomes below 30% of the area median income (AMI)
- Preserve and create single family homeownership opportunities, with the highest priority given to units affordable to households with incomes below 60% of the area median income
- Create housing opportunities for homeless populations
- Support neighborhood revitalization
- Stimulate economic development
- Promote, target, and/or reduce access barriers for all activities to Black, Indigenous, and people of color and people with low and moderate incomes.
Access the RFP and apply
All proposals must be submitted through the Hennepin County Supplier Portal.
- Visit the Supplier Portal
- View the RFPs by selecting “Contracting opportunities”
- Select the Event Name to view the event details
- Select View Documents to view attachments
To apply you must be registered and signed into the Supplier Portal. Follow the steps in this guide or video if you haven’t previously registered: