CDBG - Economic Development

Dane County is soliciting project proposals for economic development activities under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, targeting permanent job creation for low-and-moderate income residents within the Dane County Urban County Consortium. The procurement is focused on funding 2026 projects that support economic development, with an emphasis on job training assistance, social services, case management, emergency assistance, crime prevention, transportation, child care, and youth programming. All applicants must complete a comprehensive Vendor Questionnaire/RFP application and sign a Signature Power Form, with failure to do so potentially resulting in application disqualification. The solicitation was released on April 30, 2025, with a proposal response deadline of June 11, 2025, at 2:00 pm, requiring electronic submission through the county's procurement portal. Evaluation criteria will assess applications across seven key areas: National Objective-Need and Justification (20 points), Project Approach (35 points), Experience and Qualifications (15 points), Financial Information (15 points), Partnerships (5 points), Shovel-Ready Projects (5 points), and Past Performance (5 points).

Eligible applicants include public or private non-profit agencies, faith-based organizations, units of local government, and Community-Based Development Organizations. Projects must meet one of three national objectives: benefiting low-and-moderate income persons, preventing or eliminating slums or blight, or addressing urgent community development needs. For job creation projects, at least 51% of jobs must be held by or made available to low-and-moderate income persons. The total estimated CDBG funding available for 2026 is up to $1,100,000, which will be disbursed among several CDBG categories, with funds for reimbursement tentatively set for April 2026. The procurement covers 56 participating municipalities in Dane County, with notable exclusions including the Town of Dane, City of Edgerton, and City of Madison. Applicants will be evaluated on their ability to serve low- and moderate-income populations, demonstrate clear implementation strategies, and show financial sustainability and leveraging capabilities.