Community Development

The City of Hot Springs receives federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as an entitlement grantee of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The CDBG Entitlement Program provides annual grants on a formula basis to entitled cities to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. As the responsible entity, the Planning & Development Department applies for, administers, monitors and reports according to federal regulations. 

Community Development Advisory Committee

Community Development Block Grant Forms and Resources

2019 Applications

Applications for eligible neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing, public services and certain economic development projects will be accepted through August 24, 2018.  For more information, assistance determining project eligibility or to request accommodations please contact CDBG Administrator Michelle Sestili at (501) 276-7934 or msconsulting@outlook.com.

  1. CDBG 2019 Application Instructions
  2. CDBG 2019 Application Affordable Housing
  3. CDBG 2019 Application Economic Development
  4. CDBG 2019 Application Municipal Projects on Public Property
  5. CDBG 2019 Application Non Municipal and Public Service Projects

Environmental Review Records

An environmental review is the process of reviewing a proposed project and its potential environmental impacts to determine whether it meets federal, state and local environmental standards.  The environmental review process is required for all HUD-assisted projects to ensure that the proposed project does not negatively impact the surrounding environment and that the property site itself will not have an adverse environmental or health effect on end users.  Not every project is subject to a full environmental review (i.e. every project's environmental impact must be examined, but the extent of this examination varies), but every project must be in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other related Federal and state environmental laws.

  1. Malvern Avenue Gateway and Garden Street Improvements Projects Environmental Review Record for public review and comment
  2. Malvern Avenue Gateway and Garden Street Improvements FONSI RROF Comment Sheet

Community Development Block Grant Policies

  1. Affordable Housing Underwriting Policy 2018
  2. CDBG Unoccupied Property Boarding Improvement Policy
  3. CDBG Spot Blight Nuisance Abatement Forgivable Loan Policy and Application

Annual Action Plan

  1. 2018 Annual Action Plan for public review and comment version 2
  2. 2017 Annual Action Plan
  3. 2016 Annual Action Plan
  4. 2015 Annual Action Plan
  5. 2014 Annual Action Plan
The Annual Action Plan is a one-year implementation strategy for each year of the Consolidated Plan, which describes how federal funds will be used to meet community development and housing needs in that year.

Amendment to Prior Plan Years to Reallocate Funds

  1. 2017 Substantial Amendment to Prior Plan Years 2014 2015 & 2016
  2. 2016 Substantial Amendment to Prior Plan Years 2011 2013 2014 2015 & 2016
  3. 2015 Substantial Amendment to Prior Plan Years 2011 2012 2013 and 2014

The City of Hot Springs receives funds Annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Community Development Block Grant programs. Annual expenditures are described in an Annual Action Plan each year.  An amendment is necessary to allow the change in use of HUD funding (24 CFR Section 91.505).  The purpose of this amendment is to (1) delete activities which will not be completed; (2) delete an activity that became ineligible; and (3) reallocate unspent funds from projects completed under budget.  Funds are being reallocated to eligible neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing activities as described in the 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan.  This is the second amendment to the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Annual Action Plans as amended, and the first amendment to the 2014 Annual Action Plan.

Consolidated Plan

  1. Amended 2014 2018 Consolidated Plan Substantial Amendment with 2018 allocation
  2. 2014-2018 CDBG Consolidated Plan
  3. 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan

The Consolidated Plan is a strategic plan addressing low- and moderate-income housing, community and economic development needs. It is a planning document that identifies the affordable housing, community and economic development short- and long-term needs, goals, priorities and objectives. The city identified the following priorities for the 2014-2018 Consolidated Plan:

1. Create suitable living environments and promote decent, affordable housing initiatives

2. Encourage business and job growth through targeted infrastructure improvements

3. Provide assistance, support and resources to affirmatively further fair housing, expand neighborhood revitalization and strengthen Continuum of Care service efforts The Consolidated Plan summarizes citizen participation and comments, agency consultations, housing and market analyses, and other factors that contributed to the development of plan objectives.

Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report


  1. 2017 CDBG Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report CAPER
  2. 2016 CDBG Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report CAPER
  3. 2015 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report
  4. 2014 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report final
  5. 2013 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report final
  6. 2012 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report
The Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) is an annual report required by HUD detailing housing and community development activities undertaken by the city to meet priority needs as documented in the Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan.  The report summarizes the available resources, results of activities, number and type of households assisted, and evaluates performance in accomplishing the overall Consolidated Plan objectives.