Sponsor: Community & Economic Development
Title
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Substantial Amendment to the 2025 Community Development Block Grant Annual Action Plan
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Recommendation
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1. Approve the amended 2025 Community Development Block Grant - HOME Investment Partnerships Act Action Plan/Proposed Use of Funds.
2. Authorize the County Manager to approve and execute amendments to agreements provided the amounts are within the budget of the approved plan.
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Background and Rationale
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Ramsey County has received Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding as an urban county for almost 40 years. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides this annual grant to “develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low and moderate-income persons.” Categories of eligible activities include, but are not limited to, public services, public infrastructure, and the rehabilitation of low to moderate-income housing. The funds are limited for use in suburban Ramsey County.
On May 6, 2025 the Ramsey County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) authorized the County Manager to submit the 2025-2029 CDBG-HOME Consolidated Plan, which included the 2025 CDBG Annual Action Plan (AAP). Due to the delays in the 2025 federal budget, CDBG funds were allocated in the AAP to eligible project types rather than to specific activities like in a typical funding year. After the 2025 federal budget was passed the Community and Economic Development (CED) department worked with the internal Federal Response Action Team (FRAT) and the Purchasing and Contracting (PaC) division to review grant agreements from HUD and approve a framework for a competitive solicitation. A competitive solicitation was released in December 2025 and responses were due in January 2026 to select eligible activities.
10 new activities are recommended for 2025 CDBG funding. All new activities or adjustments to activities that are larger than $100,000 trigger a HUD substantial amendment process. This requires a public notice, a 30-day public comment period, a public meeting and approval by the HRA Board. The following activities will be added to the 2025 CDBG-HOME AAP/Proposed Use of Funds.
Summary of Proposed Distribution of CDBG Funds
Public Services
Homeline Tenant Hotline, Suburban Countywide $70,584
Open Arms of Minnesota Nutrition Program, Suburban Countywide $22,345.86
White Bear Area Food shelf, Suburban Countywide $22,345.86
Keystone Community Services, Food Support, Suburban Countywide $22,345.86
Interfaith Action Department of Indian Work, Little Canada $22,345.86
Youthway Ministries Manna Market, Mounds View $22,345.86
Housing Rehabilitation
Minnesota One Stop for Communities, Home Rehab, Roseville $125,000
Hearts and Hammers, Home Rehab, Suburban Countywide $10,000
Slipstream, Home Rehab Loan Program, Suburban Countywide $391,473.76
Slipstream, Critical Repair Grant Program, Suburban Countywide $391,473.76
Administration and Planning $270,077.36
Total Allocated Funding $1,370,388.18
CDBG Sources of Funds
2025 Unallocated Funds $1,215,422
Program Income on Hand $154,966.18
Total Funding Available: $1,370,388.18
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
In 2024, 50% of the residents served by CDBG-funded activities were person of color or indigenous. Additionally, 18% of residents served identified as Hispanic or Latino. Staff expect CDBG-funded activities to serve a similar population in 2025 and 2026.
In Ramsey County, Black/African American, American Indian and other residents of color are more likely to be renters than White residents. Renters of color and American Indian residents are more likely to be cost-burdened by housing costs than White residents. According to the Mapping Prejudice Project and the Economic Competitiveness and Inclusion Plan, Ramsey County also has one of the largest homeownership gaps between White residents and Black residents in the nation. Strategic investments in affordable rental and owner-occupied housing by the county can help reduce these racial disparities in housing.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Goals and objectives for CDBG and HOME funds are set during the consolidated planning process, following the community outreach and participation strategies required by that plan. As required a public meeting was held to gather community input on the recommended activities and a public notice was given in the local newspaper. The meetings occurred on February 12, 2025 at the Roseville Library. Additional outreach to city partners and community organizations to make sure they were aware of the funding opportunity.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
CED, in partnership with the County Attorney’s Office and Finance, solicited for eligible activities through a competitive solicitation. The 2025 CDBG Public Services and Programs Solicitation was open to applications that expanded public services, housing rehabilitation programs or public infrastructure projects in suburban Ramsey County. The process for selection included a review for eligibility and completeness and an interdepartmental scoring team. All projects included in the Annual Action Plans/Proposed Use of Funds were selected through this process. The annual allocation of 2025 CDBG was accounted for in the 2024-2025 biennial budget.
Last Previous Action
On May 6, 2025, the Housing Redevelopment Authority approved the 2025-2029 Community Development Block Grant-HOME Investments Partnerships Act Consolidated Plan which included the 2025 CDBG Annual Action Plan/Proposed Use of Funds (Resolution H2025-009).
Attachments
1. Narrative Project Descriptions
2. Public Notice and Affidavit