Background
Since 1994, the State of Indiana has required formal certification in order to administer Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects in Indiana. The CDBG certification process was established to cover the complex administrative and financial procedures regulated by federal and state policies. Knowledge of the applicable regulations and policies is essential for the oversight of CDBG grant awards. The Grant Administrator Certification helps to meet the needs of constituents and provides insurance to grantees against unnecessary monitoring findings due to inexperienced administrators.
Find the Grant Administrator Certification Policy here.
Find a Certified Grant Administrator
The Office of Community and Rural Affairs maintains an updated list of current certified grant administrators. This list is updated quarterly.
- View the current GA list here (Updated October 2024).
If you are a certified grant administrator and your contact information has changed, use this Google Form to update your contact information and stay informed about OCRA updates. This also makes sure we can include your accurate information in the GA contact list.
Grant Administrator Training Schedule and Registration
CDBG Certified Grant Administrators manage grants funded by the federal CDBG Program, part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, on behalf of cities, towns, and counties. The Grant Administrator serves as the liaison between the funded community and OCRA and is an expert on the CDBG grant process and federal guidelines.
This is not a general grant writing course. This certification prepares participants to administer a CDBG grant after it has been funded by OCRA. Any information about preparing applications is specific to Indiana CDBG grants.
To be certified, participants must complete CDBG 101, 201, 301, and pass a final exam (CDBG 401). Trainings are hosted in-person, and registration is required. Please plan ahead and make appropriate accommodations to be in Indianapolis for the full duration of each training.
All parts of the class must be taken to receive credit. Participants who are seeking certification must take the corresponding exam with each course to receive credit. For certified Grant Administrators who want to attend CDBG 201 or 301 again, they are worth one Continuing Education Credit when you complete the course exam.
If you have any questions regarding the trainings and certification process, please email the CDBG Program Manager, Armica Bash Gaspar, at abashgaspar@ocra.in.gov, or our general CDBG inbox at CDBG@ocra.in.gov.
2024 Training Schedule
CDBG 101: Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
- Location: The Garrison, The Blue Heron Ballroom, 6002 N Post Rd., Indianapolis, IN, 46216
- Training Materials located here.
*CDBG 101 Virtual Make-Up/Refresher: Wednesday, June 19, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
- Training presentation is located here.
CDBG 201 (3.5-day training): Tuesday, Aug. 6, through Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, and Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, from 9 a.m. to noon ET
- Training materials: CDBG 201 Day 1, CDBG 201 Day 2, CDBG 201 Day 3, CDBG 201 Day 4
CDBG 301 (3.5-day training): Tuesday, Sept. 24, through Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, and Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, from 9 a.m. to noon ET
- Training materials: CDBG 301 Day 1, CDBG 301 Day 2, CDBG 301 Day 3, CDBG 301 Day 4
CDBG 401:
- CDBG Exam Opens Oct. 15, 2024
- CDBG Exam Due Oct. 28, 2024
The final GA Certification Exam, CDBG 401, was due by 11:59pm on Monday, Oct. 28. The exam is now closed.