CDBG Priority Setting Recommendations

At a glance

What: Order 44-26/27 adopts the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Priority Setting Task Force recommendations, the community development needs, goals and priorities for the 2027-2031 HUD five-year Consolidated Plan, and revisions to the CDBG allocation process.
Outcome: Committee voted 4-0 on September 15 to send it to Council; Council passed it 8-0 on September 21, 2026 (moved by Councilor Ali, seconded by Councilor Sykes; Councilor Fournier absent).
Task force changes: scoring boosts for organizations serving niche populations; the new-applicant set-aside for groups that never received CDBG funding stays; added items to help reviewers fund the highest-impact groups with clarity and objectivity.
Related: Communication 3-26/27 on September 21 transmitted the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for HUD-funded programs from Mary Davis; communications need no vote.

Sources

Housing and Economic Development Committee minutes, September 15, 2026: https://portlandme.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=20578,plainText=false)
City Council minutes, September 21, 2026: https://portlandme.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=20470,plainText=false)

Log

2026-09-21 - City Council

Order 44 passed 8-0; Councilors Ali and Sykes spoke. CAPER communication received.

2026-09-15 - Housing & Economic Development Committee

Mary Davis and Laken Chapin presented the final report with task force Chair Tae Chong and Co-Chair Kristen Dunphey. All councilors thanked the task force. Councilor Sykes asked how past results feed each year's allocation; Davis described a partnership with Health and Human Services on measuring social impact. Councilor Phillips asked about applications from multiple parts of one organization; Chong explained the scoring boosts. Councilor Michniewicz asked about continuity as membership changes; Davis said some members carry over. Moved by Sykes, seconded by Michniewicz, 4-0.