Dallas County's Planning and Development Department operates the County's community development block grant (CDBG) program, open space/trail program, household hazardous waste program, housing reconstruction program and law library, and conducts its economic development and historic preservation activities.

It also undertakes special projects, analyzes population/economic data, supports the County's housing finance corporation and health facilities development corporation, and administers the County's miscellaneous planning activities.

The County receives about $2.3 million a year from HUD for this program which can be used for a variety of purposes as long as they either eradicate blight, principally benefit low/moderate income people, or eliminate a community-threatening condition.

The County uses about 20% of this funding to operate the program and another 15% to fund a Home Loan Counseling Center.

The remaining 65% is allocated to the cities using a formula that takes into account a city's population and the percentage of it that is low/moderate income.

Cities participating in the program are generally allowed to utilize their allocations, which typically range from about $60,000-$175,000, for whatever eligible projects they desire as long as they do not jeopardize the County's ability to meet HUD's annual spending requirement.

Most of the money received by the cities is used for code enforcement and for capital improvement projects like reconstructing streets, replacing water/sewer lines, installing bridges, or renovating parks.

Projects are typically determined every April-May.

For more information about the County's CDBG program, please call (214) 653-6368.