The City of Lowell's Division of Planning and Development (DPD) is responsible for the administration of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Planning and Development programs. These programs utilize block grant funding from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) program, the Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME), and the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program to fund local activities which benefit low-income and moderate-income residents and neighborhoods. Projects supported must conform to program regulations and focus on the City’s priority needs, as identified in the City of Lowell's 2005-2010 Consolidated Plan and the 2008-2009 Annual Action Plan. The priority needs identified for the 2005-2010 period include:

• Homeless/HIV/AIDS (15% of activity funding)
• Nonhomeless Special Needs (1%)
• Affordable Rental Housing (16%)
• Affordable Owner-Occupied Housing (20%)
• Public Facilities (21%)
• Infrastructure (6%)
• Economic Development (12%)
• Public Services (8%)

The DPD coordinates the annual allocation of Federal funds through an Request For Proposal (RFP) process that solicits organizations to submit proposals for projects or activities in Lowell that will help to meet the priority needs listed above. To learn more about the eligibility requirements, please click on the program links listed on the left.

The Citizen Advisory Committee advises the City Manager on the selection of projects and activities to be funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) program, and the Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME). A separate Citizens Advisory Committee advises the City Manager on the HOPWA program because this program serves all of Middlesex County. The committees contribute to the development of the Annual Action Plan, a document required by their funding source, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The committees hold public hearings on a yearly basis to review applications, take testimony, and make recommendations.