Planning & Development

5 Reasons CDBG is a Success in Duluth

Reason #5: OVERALL IMPACT

The impact of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is huge. Not only does Duluth receive about $3 million annually, but these funds also leverage an average of $25 million additional funds every year. That's $27 million dollars spent on our neighbors and neighborhoods every year.

Family Freedom Center offers the S.T.A.R.T. program,
allowing kids to explore and build their skills.
Photo from the Family Freedom Center.

Reason #4: FOOD ACCESS

Every year, local agencies feed about 20,285 people. This includes hot meals served by Life House Youth Center or Damiano, and food shelves like CHUM and Second Harvest Northland.

During the 2025 application season, three agencies came forward with excellent proposals for even more food-centric resources and services. These include a new food shelf facility (designed to feel more like a grocery store) by Second Harvest Northland, the Mobile Market and Farmers Markets by Community Action Duluth, and the food programming offered by Union Gospel Mission.

Reason #3: PUBLIC HEALTH

Dental care can be difficult to afford, especially if dental insurance is not in your budget. This is where Lake Superior Community Health Center comes in - they provide dental care to 1,500 LMI residents annually. 

Funding for dental chairs is hard to come by, but CDBG can do it!

Reason #2: INFRASTRUCTURE

From playgrounds and ADA improvements, to bike racks and sidewalks, the City has invested in so much with the help of CDBG. Just a few include...

Chester Bowl's ADA bridge, and the upcoming chalet expansion and rehabilitation! Kids of all backgrounds get to spend all seasons at Chester Bowl's many camps and programs.

Zeitgeist's Safer 6th Ave E initiative has been a grassroots mission of the Hillside Community for a long time. This year, 2025, Zeitgeist will sponsor the installation of Green Medians/Pedestrian Refuge Islands on 6th Ave E.

Summer of 2024 saw the installation of 20 new bike racks, organized by the City's Planning and Development department.

Reason #1: AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The City and Duluth Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) work closely to provide several critical services:

1. Property Rehabs: Every year, at least 50 low to moderate-income occupied properties are repaired. Between 2020-2024, 286 properties will be rehabbed, helping to maintain Duluth's existing housing stock.

2. Rapid Rehousing and Homelessness Prevention program: Almost 200 households have been prevented from becoming homeless, or have been rehoused quickly since 2020. These types of programs are proven to reduce the likelihood of long-term homelessness.

3. TBRA: Tenant Based Rental Assistance has been provided to about 80 households since 2020.

4. Coordinated Entry (CE): the gateway to the many public services in Duluth, CE has helped about 7,500 individuals, between 2020-2024, get access to the help they need.

Of course, a huge reason the many CDBG projects are possible is because of our many local agencies who do incredible work every year. The City of Duluth offers a big THANK YOU to all our area partners, throughout the many years of Community Development Block Grant.