City Of Bethlehem

The City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, operating under the business designation Community and Economic Development, is a U.S. local government entity headquartered in Bethlehem, PA that has established itself as a significant recipient of federal grant funding focused on community development and affordable housing initiatives. As a participating jurisdiction in multiple U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, the city has demonstrated consistent capacity to manage complex federal grants that directly address housing affordability and community revitalization priorities for low- and moderate-income residents.

City of Bethlehem has received multiple federal formula grants and project grants spanning from 2021 through September 2025, with a concentration of funding from HUD's Community Planning and Development office. The city has been awarded numerous HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) grants, including recent awards of $417,183.96 (September 2025) and $391,294.31 (November 2024), which support affordable housing activities such as rehabilitation of owner-occupied housing, homebuyer assistance, acquisition and construction of rental housing, and tenant-based rental assistance to low-income households. Additionally, the City of Bethlehem has received multiple Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement awards dating back to January 2021, which provide formula-based funding to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, suitable living environments, and expanding economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income persons. The city also secured Economic Development Initiative and Community Project Funding awards in August 2024 and February 2023, representing congressionally directed spending for community and economic development outcomes. As a participating jurisdiction, the city has the capacity to undertake HOME and CDBG-funded projects directly or to provide funding to developers, owners of affordable housing, and other community partners to implement eligible activities, with all housing assisted through these programs required to maintain affordability for low-income households for periods ranging from 5 to 20 years depending on the activity type and funding contribution.