IEDC's Julia Kraeger, Chief Operating Officer, presented the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Marion M. McFadden, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, with a proclamation in support of the Community Development Block Grant program, commemorating the program's 50th Anniversary. The proclamation was presented yesterday, June 3, at the CDBG 50th Anniversary Kickoff event at HUD's headquarters in the Brooke-Mondale Auditorium.

"Since CDBG’s inception in 1974, HUD has invested over $170 billion in urban, suburban, and rural communities for job creation, affordable housing, disaster recovery efforts, economic development, infrastructure projects, and more. These funds are empowering communities, facilitating investments, and transforming lives, which is why IEDC and its members champion robust funding levels in FY25 Appropriations for CDBG programming."

Julia Kraeger
Chief Operating Officer
IEDC
Washington, DC

The half-day event included official remarks by PDAS McFadden, Claudia Monterrosa, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs for Community Planning and Development and Adrianne Todman, HUD Acting Secretary. Local government officials,  The Honorable Letty Hardi, Mayor of Falls Church, Virginia and Johnny Olszewski, Baltimore County, Maryland Executive, spoke to the benefits of CDBG in their respective communities. Vicki Watson, Executive Director, National Community Development Association (NCDA) and CDBG Coalition Co-chair highlighted HUD's partnership with national organizations before Julia Kraeger moderated a panel of HUD partner organizations comprising Matt Chase, CEO/Executive Director, National Association of Counties (NACo), Jeff Dee, President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland, Norma Ramirez de Miess, Vice President, Main Street America, Olga Morales-Pate, CEO, Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and Catherine Beane, Vice President, Public Policy & Advocacy, YWCA USA. All panelists underlined the tremendous impact CDBG continues to have in the diverse communities they serve across the nation.

Since CDBG's inception on August 22, 1974, HUD has invested over $170 billion in urban, suburban, and rural communities for job creation, building affordable housing, funding disaster recovery efforts and supporting economic development and infrastructure projects. HUD and its partners, including IEDC, will be celebrating the 50th anniversary throughout the summer as well as advocating for robust funding levels in FY'25 Appropriations. 

HUD and IEDC want to hear from you! What projects has the CDBG program supported in your community, and how have they contributed to local growth, development, and transformation? Let us know on social media with #CDBG50 and email submissions to [email protected].

PROCLAMATION FOR THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) IN HONOR OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM

Whereas the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving over 4,500 economic developers, making IEDC the largest community of its kind.

Whereas, IEDC aims to strengthen the landscape of economic development through public policy and capacity building, among other priorities.

Whereas, since the creation of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program in 1975, IEDC members have been utilizing CDBG funds to address economic development, disaster recovery, housing, infrastructure and other needs in their communities across the United States, principally benefiting low and moderate-income people.

Now, therefore be it resolved, that IEDC and its members are committed to advocating for increased funding for the CDBG program in FY2025, and supporting HUD’s Proposed Rule to effectively remove impediments and disincentives to the use of CDBG funds for economic development activities, resulting in a greater proportion of available CDBG funds being used for economic development. 

Be it further resolved, IEDC designates the year of 2024 as a time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the CDBG Program in recognition of its tremendous contributions to the viability and impact of the economic development community.