County reviews CDBG rules and approves nine community grants, including $53,077 for Big Brothers Big Sisters

Macon‑Bibb County staff briefed commissioners on the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and the county’s local process, then the commission approved a slate of CDBG awards to nonprofits that provide mentoring, counseling, shelter and other services to low‑ and moderate‑income residents.

HUD and local process: Wenzina Jackson, who manages the county’s CDBG activities, explained that Macon‑Bibb is an entitlement community and must create a consolidated plan that identifies needs and programs serving low‑ and moderate‑income households. She reviewed eligibility rules tied to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and described national objectives (benefit to low‑ and moderate‑income people, elimination of slum/blight, or urgent need after a disaster). Jackson explained that public services can be funded but subject to limits (public service max 15% of allocation; administration max 20%), and that eligibility is income‑based (example cited: a family of four with a maximum annual income of $56,550 to qualify as low‑to‑moderate income under…