CDBG - Economic Assistance

Dane County is soliciting proposals for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Economic Assistance projects through an RFP targeting economic development activities. The procurement seeks to fund projects that create permanent jobs for low-and-moderate income residents within the Dane County Urban County Consortium, which comprises 55 participating municipalities. Eligible applicants include public or private non-profit agencies, local government units, and Community-Based Development Organizations. Proposed activities may include business incubators, commercial rehabilitation, microenterprise development, and public infrastructure projects. The evaluation criteria encompasses six primary areas: National Objective-Need and Justification (30 points), Project Approach (30 points), Experience and Qualifications (15 points), Financial Information (15 points), Past Performance (5 points), and Partnerships (5 points). The proposal submission deadline is June 30, 2023, at 2:00 pm, with potential oral presentations scheduled for the last two weeks of August 2023, and the contract expected to start in the first quarter of 2024.

The procurement is open to various organizations, with a specific focus on those capable of creating or retaining jobs, particularly for low-and-moderate income populations. At least 51% of positions must be held by or made available to low-and-moderate income persons, with projects specifically targeting job creation outside the City of Madison. The total CDBG funding availability is estimated at up to $1,000,000, distributed across different CDBG categories. Applicants must complete a comprehensive Vendor Questionnaire/CDBG application and sign a Signature Power Form, with incomplete applications risking ineligibility. New applicants are automatically awarded 5 points for past performance, and the evaluation process includes a comprehensive scoring system where organizations can earn up to 100 points. The procurement emphasizes projects that demonstrate strong community need, geographic accessibility to low-income populations, effective implementation strategies, and organizational capacity to deliver proposed economic development initiatives.