Blight Clearance Program
The Blight Clearance Program encourages communities with blighted properties to take a long-term view of community development and revitalization, starting by improving quality of place. Eligible projects include land acquisition, the demolition and/or clearance of deteriorated or abandoned downtown buildings or vacant/unusable industrial sites, and environmental clean-up. Communities can request up to $500,000 in BCP Grants and must provide a minimum match of 10% of the total project cost.
Project Considerations: Closeout and Five-Year Monitoring Period
Property that has been acquired or improved (in whole or in part) using CDBG funds may not change the use of such property for a period of five years after closeout unless they go through a change in use process (24 CFR 570.489). Any change in use must remain an eligible activity under CDBG.
OCRA will monitor all grants made under the Blight Clearance Program for the five-year period following closeout of a project. If the community plans to change the use of a property within that five-year period, they must submit a request to OCRA in writing prior to making any change and go through the change in use process. If a project is changed to an ineligible CDBG activity, the community will have to repay all or part of the grant funds.