Albert Rizzell, director of the City of North Miami Housing and Social Services Department, told viewers that the city's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public‑services application period opened July 14 and closes Aug. 1 at 11:59 p.m., and that attendance at a mandatory how‑to‑apply workshop is required for any applicant to have their proposal reviewed.

The program distributes federal CDBG funds to local nonprofits and community‑based organizations serving low‑ and moderate‑income North Miami residents. "This money is for City of North Miami residents, not for anybody else," Rizzell said, adding that the city trains subrecipients on how to verify residency and meet federal restrictions.

Rizzell said the public‑services allocation is a set‑aside within the CDBG program and that roughly half of the city's allocation "must go to the community based organization." He described the mandatory workshop as technical assistance required under HUD rules and as a way to reduce denials of incomplete or ineligible proposals.

Eligible activities named by Rizzell included senior meal programs, financial literacy, mental‑health services, workforce training, tutoring and childcare. He invited applicants to consult published CDBG eligibility guidance and the city's web resources for a fuller list.

Rizzell named past local subrecipients as examples: the North Miami Foundation for Senior Citizen Services, the Warsaw Education Foundation and Expert Community Services, which he said have provided meals, tutoring and financial literacy programs. He said the city does not provide all social services directly and uses the CDBG public‑services set‑aside to expand service delivery through nonprofit partners.

On procedural details, Rizzell said the city requires applicants to attend the how‑to‑apply workshop so they understand HUD/CDBG standards, what costs are allowable and how to prepare compliant proposals. "If you don't come, even if you submit an application, we won't review this application," he said.

Key dates and logistics Rizzell provided: the application window runs July 14 through Aug. 1, 2025, with an electronic deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 1; the mandatory how‑to‑apply workshop takes place Wednesday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Scott Galvin Community Center. Rizzell and the host directed potential applicants to 2025cdbg.eventbrite.com to RSVP and to the city's CDBG web resources for eligibility details.

Rizzell also reiterated that subrecipients will receive training on how to document that program beneficiaries are North Miami residents. He encouraged organizations that have started applications to wait to submit until after attending the workshop so they can revise proposals for eligibility.

The segment concluded with Rizzell emphasizing that the workshop and technical assistance are intended to help, not to restrict, and reminding viewers that the CDBG funds are federal entitlement dollars routed to the city for North Miami residents.

The city provided contact information and online resources during the segment for organizations seeking more information or technical help on application requirements.