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House finance panel accepts $280,000 annual state match to keep CDBG funds flowing to New Hampshire towns
Summary
The House Finance Committee unanimously approved the Community Development Finance Authority’s request for a $280,000-per-year state match to administer the federal Community Development Block Grant, a dollar amount the agency says is essential to preserve roughly $9.4 million a year of federal investment in local projects.
The House Finance Committee voted unanimously to accept the Community Development Finance Authority’s (CDFA) request for a state match of $280,000 in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to administer the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program on behalf of New Hampshire.
The funding will be used by CDFA to provide technical assistance, contracting, monitoring and other administrative services required to deliver roughly $9.4 million a year in federal CDBG funds to municipalities, nonprofits and businesses, CDFA officials told the committee. Katie Easterly Marty, executive director of CDFA, told the panel the state match allows the authority to leverage those federal dollars into roughly $19 million of community investments each year.
“CDFA has administered the annual allocation of CDBG funds on behalf of the State of New Hampshire since 2003,” Easterly Marty said. She told lawmakers the program’s goals are to develop viable communities, provide decent housing and suitable living environments, and expand economic opportunity.
Why it matters: Committee members pressed CDFA on oversight and results; the authority said it performs desk and on-site monitoring and is audited annually by federal officials. In the past two years, CDFA said its CDBG program had assisted more than 30,000 people through public services and facility improvements, created or retained dozens of jobs and rehabilitated or preserved hundreds of housing units.
Committee action: Representative Ebel moved to accept CDFA’s budget request as presented; Representative Rung seconded. The committee took the matter by a show of hands and recorded a unanimous approval.
What the funding pays for: CDFA said the $280,000 annual state match represents roughly 2.9% of the federal allocation it administers and covers a portion of staff and systems used across multiple state and federal programs the nonprofit administers. CDFA said it has 18 employees (16 full‑time, two part‑time) and leverages staff across several programs to keep per‑dollar administrative costs low.
Background: CDBG is a federal program created under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The program gives HUD funds to states and localities and requires a nonfederal match or administrative structure to manage federal reporting, procurement and monitoring rules. CDFA told the committee it has coordinated more than $200 million into New Hampshire communities since 2003.
Committee members asked for follow-up material, including a short list of communities that received funding, and CDFA said it would provide more detailed examples and the agency’s monitoring procedures.
