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Committee reviews CDBG and disaster recovery funding; Urban League plaza damaged by tornado may use existing appropriation
Summary
Community Solutions staff told legislators CDBG and disaster recovery requests match the governor's recommendations and that many awards are already obligated; the Urban League of Metro St. Louis's $1 million plaza renovation now likely requires demolition and site prep after tornado damage and faces an expenditure deadline.
Department staff briefed the committee on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs, disaster recovery funds and the status of one-time project appropriations.
Christina Carver (Community Solutions division director) said the department requested $57,318,920 for CDBG (matching the governor) and $47,681,080 for disaster recovery. She told the committee that most federal awards are obligated to projects but that multi-year timelines mean many funds appear as lapsed in any single fiscal year while still committed to local construction or recovery work.
Representative Boggs and others sought details about which ZIP codes are targeted for CDBG allocations and how disaster-recovery dollars are being used; Carver said the program team would provide the committee with ZIP-code lists and project status updates. On the Urban League plaza in St. Louis, Kim Frinsdorf explained tornado damage forced a shift from renovation to demolition and new construction; the project team is seeking to demo and reconstruct the plaza and must spend the appropriation by June 1 to remain eligible.
Carver also described stimulus-era CDBG funding ($18,399,870) and said the department expects those funds to be expended in FY27. Members asked for outreach to rural communities and clarity on where obligated projects remain incomplete; staff said they would share lists of obligated projects and timelines so lawmakers can track performance and consider extensions if necessary.
Next steps: staff will provide ZIP-code lists, the status of obligated CDBG/disaster projects, and a timeline and spend plan for the Urban League plaza project to demonstrate whether the June deadline can be met.
