Committee recommends 2026 CDBG allocation, refers resolution to City Council

The Waukesha City Community Development advisory committee on May 20 reviewed staff recommendations for the city—ommunity Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation for federal fiscal year 2026 and approved sending a resolution recommending those allocations to the City Council for approval.

Staff told the committee the city—stimated total entitlement for 2026 is $246,954; 85% of the entitlement is slated for facilities, housing and economic development projects ($209,911) and 15% for programs ($37,043). Staff said the total requests submitted by applicants exceeded available funds: $306,000 in project requests and program requests that in the aggregate were larger than the $37,043 available.

The committee recommended staff llocations that match available funding. Staff recommended $128,962 for ADA playground surfacing (matching a prior-year award level though less than the $226,000 requested), $25,000 for facade/sign/awning grants, $25,000 for landmarks paint-and-repair grants and $30,949 for public art projects, together totaling $209,911 for projects. For programs, staff recommended $15,000 for the senior activity coordinator, $6,743 for the merged Horb/Buckner swim-park-play program and $15,300 for the adaptive inclusion specialist, matching those program requests.

"That ensures that, at any given time we are 100%…