The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) has received record funding of $1 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (also known as the economic stimulus bill).
This amount is added to the $700 million CSBG had already received for FY 2009. CSBG provides core funding to the national network of community action agencies enabling them to administer such programs as Head Start, LIHEAP, housing, weatherization, emergency food, etc.
The $1.7 billion is to be available immediately and it must be obligated by September 30, 2010. States may increase the income eligibility ceiling for recipients to 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines from the current 125 percent. One percent of funds must be reserved for benefit coordination services, i.e., activities relating to the identification and enrollment of eligible individuals and families in various benefit programs.
A draft allocation of CSBG grant dollars from the stimulus bill is on the website of the National Community Action Foundation.
Go to www.ncaf.org and click on "Recovery Act."
Source: Source: NCAF
