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Spokane: Mayor Brown Urges Federal Lawmakers to Save the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program

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~ Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown has joined the U.S. Conference of Mayors and other bipartisan mayors across the country in calling on members of the U.S. House of Representatives to protect the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

According to Erin Hut, Communications Director for Spokane City, CDBG grants have been a crucial source of funding for local infrastructure projects, housing development, and social services since 1974. The program has provided nearly $3 million in funding to Spokane in 2024 alone.

These funds have been used for various purposes such as capital investments in affordable and transitional housing, investments in community food banks for seniors, children, and individuals, legal and advocacy services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, critical maintenance updates for family shelters and youth service facilities, workforce training programs for low-income women, investments in childcare centers, down payment assistance for low-income homeownership, and single-family home repair programs for low-income households.

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A portion of this funding is also allocated to neighborhood councils who work directly with residents and local businesses to identify and prioritize projects that benefit their communities.

Mayor Brown emphasized the devastating consequences that eliminating CDBG funding would have on Spokane and other vulnerable communities across the region. She stated that these funds are essential for affordable housing programs, infrastructure improvements, and public services for seniors, low-income families, and people with disabilities. Cutting this funding would undermine safety efforts and hinder basic community needs.

Luke Tolley, Interim Chair of the Bemiss Neighborhood Council and Community Assembly Representative also highlighted the importance of CDBG funding in Northeast Spokane's social infrastructure. He stated that key community centers such as the Northeast Community Center, Northeast Youth Center, and Hillyard Senior Center have been able to continue their operations due to investments made possible by CDBG funding at a local level.

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As House lawmakers mark up the 'Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Bill,' Mayor Brown is urging Representative Michael Baumgartner and other members of the House of Representatives to reject any proposals to eliminate or defund the essential CDBG program.

In a letter addressed to Rep. Baumgartner, Mayor Brown stressed the critical role that CDBG funding plays in supporting local communities and urged him to protect this vital program.

The mayor's efforts have been supported by various documents, including a letter to Rep. Baumgartner and statements from community leaders like Luke Tolley. With bipartisan support from mayors across the country, it is hoped that the House of Representatives will take necessary steps to safeguard the CDBG program and continue its crucial role in promoting economic growth and meeting basic community needs.

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