Local Matters

President Gerald R. Ford signs into law the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

SEATTLE - On August 22, 1974 less than two weeks after his succession to the presidency, Gerald R. Ford did something that would change the face of American cities and towns and fundamentally re-shape the working relationship between the Federal and local governments. Gathered in the East Room of The White House with Members of Congress from both Houses and both parties he signed the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

The Act, he explained, authorized a "move from the narrow programs of the past in community development to programs that are very broad gauged" and the "consolidation" of programs that "give a real impetus to local decision making, local action, and local responsibility." He expressed full confidence that "mayors, the Governors, the other local officials will assume that decision making, that action, and that responsibility."

The President noted that the Act contained "some innovative efforts." Probably most notable was the Community Development Block Grant - or CDBG - program to provide much-needed Federal resources to local governments - states, metropolitan counties and cities and towns of all sizes. But CDBG wasn't intended to be a blank check. Instead the Act clearly specified that CDBG funds could be used for one of three and only three purposes - to principally benefit low- and moderate-income residents, to eliminate slums and blight or to meet urgent community development priorities.

The rest was left to local communities. Sure, the Congress and the President had set the parameters for how CDBG could be used and HUD would enforce the rules and regulations CDBG grantees stayed within those parameters. But deciding the what's, where's and how's would be left to the community.

All of which has made CDBG one of the Federal government's most flexible, adaptable and nimble programs. And popular too. Forty years later it's clear that top-down funding, but from-the-ground-up decision- making is exactly the way the 1,200 communities CDBG serves like it.

Just ask a local official. Like Julián Castro, recently-confirmed as HUD's 16th Secretary and, before that, the three-term Mayor of America's 7th largest city, San Antonio. "CDBG is a program that actually matters where we live," he wrote recently. "It enjoys bi-partisan support primarily because it is inherently flexible, allowing states and local communities (and their residents) to decide for themselves how to invest in their local priorities."

For proof turn to Washington state. Forks, for example, used CDBG to upgrade its hospital's emergency room. Mt. Vernon financed erection of a flood wall to protect downtown from frequent Skagit River floods. The City of Spokane rehabilitated more than 900 older homes. Yakima "jump-started" and, ultimately, complete a stalled subdivision. Seattle launched a "Grow Seattle" fund to increase small business access to capital. Pierce County doubled the size of a dental clinic for low-income kids. Anacortes made its downtown sidewalks more accessible to people in wheelchairs. The City and County of Walla Walla partnered to demolish and replace dilapidated, even dangerous housing for farm worker families. And, thanks to CDBG, in 2013 alone nine small towns started upgrading their water and sewage systems.

Clark County and Vancouver chose to use CDBG to expand the size and capacity of a food bank to help families put good, nutritious food on their kitchen tables. Kennewick gave its historic downtown a face - or façade - lift. Grandview built its first library. Bellingham helped eligible homebuyers with downpayment and closing costs. Tacoma financed construction of the LeMay Museum of the American Car that is expected to attract some 200,000 vintage car buffs a year. Mabton installed sewer and water lines needed to expand its supply of affordable housing. Olympia started a revolving loan fund for downtown stores and businesses. Spokane County used CDBG to protect the Spokane Prairie Aquifer from septic contamination.

And that's just a small sample of the many ways CDBG resources have been put to work by Washington state communities, only a hint of how they use CDBG's flexibility to meet what they - and not faraway Federal officials - deem to be their biggest challenges and opportunities.

Over the 40 years since its creation CDBG has delivered almost $2.2 billion in Federal resources to scores of Washington state counties, cities and towns. And CDBG has done exactly what back in 1974 President Ford said it would do.

Happy birthday CDBG! May you - and America's communities - celebrate many more.

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