Community Development

The Community Development Department is responsible for administering both the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG); and the Regional Contribution Agreement (RCA) funds. The Department also provides funding for road improvements, infrastructure projects, public facility improvements for non-profit agencies, community events and public services.

Community Development Block Grant

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is an entitlement program that provides an annual grant, on a formula basis to Asbury Park. The program is authorized under Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Public Law 93-383, as amended; 42 U.S.C.-5301 et seq.

Launched in 1974, the CDBG program is one of the longest continuously run programs at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD awards grants to entitlement community grantees to carry out a wide range of community development activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, economic development-principally for low- and moderate-income persons, and providing improved community facilities and services.

Entitlement communities develop their own programs and funding priorities. However, grantees must give maximum feasible priority to activities which benefit low- and moderate-income persons. A grantee may also carry out activities which aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight. Additionally, grantees may fund activities when the grantee certifies that the activities meet other community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to health or welfare of the community where other financial resources are not available to meet such needs. CDBG funds may not be used for activities which do not meet one of these national objectives. 

CDBG Programs include:

  • Homelessness Prevention- Emergency Assistance for residents who face homelessness as a direct result of a loss of energy services such as electric or gas.
  • First Time Home Buyers Assistance Program- Assistance for eligible low/moderate income families, per HUD income requirements, for the purchase of a home in Asbury Park. Assistance will be provided in the form of a deferred payment second mortgage loan in the amount not to exceed $5,000 for down payment, closing and prepaids or a combination thereof.
  • Improvements to Roads, Infrastructure and Parks - Reconstruction of roads, alleyways and sidewalks; playground equipment repairs; new manholes; security cameras etc.
  • Tenant Relocation- Assistance for residents in rental units that are facing displacement as a result of code enforcement violations.
  • Home Repair Program - Assistance for resident homeowners to fix their properties in order to come into compliance with cited code enforcement violations.

Regional Contribution Agreement Home Rehabilitation Program

The Regional Contribution Agreement (RCA) Home Rehabilitation Program rehabilitates substandard single-family, owner-occupied, and multi-family investment (up to four units), for low- to moderate-income families with a least one major building system to be replaced or repaired.

Major systems include: 

  • Electrical
  • Heating
  • Plumbing
  • Roofing
  • Sanitary Plumbing
  • Structural (Load Bearing)
  • Weatherization

Applicant Lien

All qualifying applicants will carry a ten year lien period. If compliance with the terms and conditions of the Mortgage and Mortgage Note are met at the end of the lien period, the lien is canceled and no monies are owed to the City. If the property is sold prior to the end of the lien period, the Community Development Department must be contacted in order to determine whether the lien must be paid off or if it can continue with the prospective new owner. Minimum expenditures in major systems are $12,000. Maximum average per unit is $20,000.

More Information

For more information on the Community Development Department, contact Cassandra Dickerson at 732-502-5753 or email Cassandra Dickerson.

For questions on applying for the CDBG or RCA programs, contact Carrie Jeannot at 732-502-4580 or email Carrie Jeannot.

View important Community Development documents.