PRESS RELEASE

  
Pictured are two projects funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program funds.
Above from left: The Neighborhood Leadership Program 2024 graduating class poses for their capstone project and clean-up; Residents enjoy the newly renovated Admiral Kidd Park playground.

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach Community Development Department (Department) will host a variety of workshops and community meetings from April 21-26, 2025, as part of National Community Development Week to engage and inform residents on the use of federal funding for local housing and community programs.

"Long Beach is experiencing a real transformation, driven by strategic funding and federal partnerships,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This funding isn't just a boost; it's a foundation. We're delivering tangible improvements in neighborhood revitalization and infrastructure, directly benefiting our underserved communities and building a stronger, more resilient Long Beach for everyone."

A total of four workshops and community meetings are slated during the week to showcase and engage the community on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant-funded initiatives. The 2025 Long Beach Community Development Week’s schedule of events is as follows:

Senior and Youth Services Workshop
Monday, April 21, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Bret Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.)
An in-person workshop where attendees will learn about the City’s Afterschool and Weekend Recreation and Senior Services programs.

Neighborhood Leadership Program Workshop
Wednesday, April 23, 6 to 7 p.m.
Silverado Park (1545 W. 31st St.)
An in-person workshop where attendees will learn about the City’s Neighborhood Leadership Program that provides residents with the skills, knowledge and resources needed to make a difference in the quality of life in the community.

FY 2025 – 2026 Action Plan Virtual Meeting
Thursday, April 24, 6 to 7 p.m.
Join online or by phone at 213.338.8477. Meeting ID: 980 7443 6774 

A virtual presentation and opportunity for the community to provide input on how federal funding should be prioritized for the City’s FY 2025-2026 Action Plan.

2025-2026 Action Plan and Housing Element Mid-Cycle Assessment Community Meeting
Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. to noon.
Orizaba Park (1435 Orizaba Ave.)
An in-person community meeting featuring a presentation and opportunity for attendees to discuss the City’s Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Action Plan and share input on prioritizing federal funding for affordable housing and community programs. This meeting will also discuss the upcoming Housing Element update and assessment of fair housing goals in Long Beach.

Additionally, in commemoration of Community Development Week, a special proclamation will be presented at the April 22 Long Beach City Council meeting.

The City receives CDBG, HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds annually from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to serve low-income residents and address local housing and community development needs. As part of the implementation of this funding, the City prepares an Action Plan each year which guides how these funds are allocated to support priorities outlined in the 2023-2027 Consolidated Plan. For the 2024-25 fiscal year, the City received a total of $8 million for various activities, including affordable housing acquisition and construction for several new affordable housing projects with grand openings in 2024 such as the Wellspring, Heritage Gardens and the Cove.

In addition to the Community Development Week events, residents are encouraged to participate in a community survey to help shape the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Action Plan. The survey is available online now through Saturday, April 26, 2025, and is available in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog at lbcity.info/CDWeekSurvey. Those with limited access to a computer or smart phone may visit a public computer lab available at any open Long Beach Public Library location to access the survey.

The CDBG Program, enacted by Congress in 1974 under the Housing and Community Development Act, provides funding for the HOME and ESG Programs. It supports nearly 1,250 state and local governments in improving the physical, economic and social conditions of communities.

Programs and activities funded with CDBG, HOME and ESG grants are administered by the Community Development Department with several programs being implemented through partnerships with other City Departments. These programs benefit under resourced neighborhoods as well as provide a direct benefit to low-income residents and include activities like affordable housing development, single-family housing rehabilitation programs, public infrastructure projects and a broad range of public service programming. In Fiscal Year 2024-2025, the City received $5,059,094 in CDBG, $2,567,895.50 in HOME and $457,330 in ESG funding for various activities.

“These resources are strategically deployed and address critical needs in Long Beach from playgrounds for our children to roofs for our senior's homes,” said Long Beach Community Development Director Chistopher Koontz. “This isn't simply about funding; its about results, measurable outcomes that directly improve the daily lives of our residents in our most vulnerable communities.”

For more information about Community Development Week events, visit longbeah.gov/hudgrants or contact the Housing and Neighborhood Services Bureau at 562.570.6949.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about Community Development visit longbeach.gov/lbcd and follow @longbeachbuilds on Facebook, X and Instagram.