RAPID CITY, SD—In a letter to Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner has awarded the City of Rapid City its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation for 2025 in the amount of $491,823.
Michelle Schuelke, the City’s Community Enrichment Manager, says the funding is important as the City continues to develop and promote programs to expand the city’s housing inventory, especially affordable housing, as well as supporting outreach and assistance programs.
Schuelke says the CDBG funds will be used to support several projects that have already been selected through a competitive process. The projects include:
- Replacing an HVAC unit at Youth & Family Services’ East Adams location;
- Supporting payroll expenses for employees at West River Mental Health who assist clients in obtaining free pharmaceutical medications;
- Expanding a program at Black Hills Special Services Cooperative to incorporate housing assistance for low-income adults, including rental assistance and security deposits; and
- Providing remaining funds to two ongoing projects: a new group home being built by Black Hills Works to house eight participants with high care needs, and installation of a fire suppression system at Family Connections, a housing and service provider for youth and young adults
“With these funds, Rapid City will launch more services and provide housing to community members in need,” Schuelke said. “Many of these projects have leveraged their CDBG awards to secure additional federal and local funding, making CDBG a vital gap financing source that helps launch new initiatives and sustain essential programs.”
For more information about the City’s CDBG programs, contact the Community Enrichment Division at 605-394-4181.
