The Upper Cumberland Development District (UCDD) is proud to serve as a collaborative leader in economic development in the Upper Cumberland. With the start of a new calendar year, UCDD is working alongside local communities across the region to prepare strong applications for the 2025 round of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.
In the coming months, residents may be contacted by telephone or in person as information is gathered for the next round of funding. UCDD staff, on behalf of local governments, will be asking general demographic survey questions as required by HUD guidelines. Survey question examples include, but are not limited to, race and annual income. Residents will not be asked questions that would compromise the security of their personal information, such as social security numbers, bank accounts, etc.
Established in 1974 by Title I of the Community Development Act, the CDBG program addresses critical or unmet community needs. CDBG funds are used to expand economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for low- and moderate-income populations. UCDD staff conducts surveys or interviews of local residents and compiles data for the grant application to determine if a community meets the eligibility requirements. CDBG funding can be used for various projects including housing rehabilitation, emergency services, fire protection, community livability, or water and sewer line improvements.
CDBG projects are currently underway in many Upper Cumberland communities including Clay County, Smith County, DeKalb County, Overton County, Gainesboro, McMinnville, Sparta, Smithville, and Lafayette. Local communities have received funding for projects related to updated fire and rescue equipment, new ambulance purchases, fairground improvements, and many sewer rehabilitation projects. Applications for the 2025 funding round are due March 7, 2025, and awards are typically announced in the fall of each year.
For more information about the CDBG program or the application process, please call 931-432-4111 to speak with a member of UCDD’s Planning and Community Development Department.
