Affirms the role of the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) in supporting youth enrichment programs and thus helping local governments and agencies confront problems facing young people. Explains how the federal government allocates and dispenses CDBG, and how communities use CDBG to support youth services. Charts illustrate the allocation process and the types of recipient organizations and entities. Sidebars offer anecdotal examples of community-development programs that benefited from CDBG. Laws governing CDBG use provide grants to help low-income or moderate-income residents, aid in preventing or eliminating slums or blight, and must support specifically defined public services or public improvements. States and communities receiving grants must verify their adherence by producing plans every five years that detail community needs and spending priorities for CDBG. By understanding the CDBG process and knowing effective strategies for influencing and directing grants to needs within the community, agencies and organizations can maximize availability of funds for much needed community-based youth programs, facilities, and services.
