St. Louis CDA details priorities and timeline for 2026 CDBG funding, highlights tornado recovery and NRSA requests

Rishanda Alexander, director of compliance for the City of St. Louis Community Development Administration, opened a public hearing July 18 to announce funding priorities and the application timeline for the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement program administered by HUD.

The hearing matters because CDBG funds are a major federal source for housing, public services and public improvements aimed at low- and moderate-income residents; Alexander said the administration is prioritizing affordable housing, economic development, youth services and tornado recovery in the 2026 action plan.

CDA, which Alexander described as “the clearinghouse of a variety of federal funds,” said the consolidated planning process completed last year shaped this cycle’s priorities. The agency posted a timeline July 3 and will publish the RFP (request for proposals) on Aug. 1, followed by a best-practices webinar on Aug. 15. Applications will be due Sept. 5 at 4 p.m. through the city’s new Salesforce grants portal, staff said. Tom…