CDBG Coordinator

City of Thornton•Thornton, CO

10d•Onsite

About The Position

Under direction, this position administers and implements the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the City of Thornton. This role performs a variety of professional duties and responsibilities to administer and implement the City’s CDBG program, projects, and activities, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and city regulations. The position assists with key planning documents, identifies community needs, evaluates current programs, and communicates grant opportunities to various stakeholders. It coordinates the application process, conducts eligibility assessments, and manages environmental reviews. The role also involves preparing agreements, providing technical assistance to subrecipients, monitoring funded activities for compliance, and managing financial aspects of the grants. Data entry and maintenance for HUD's Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) are crucial, as is compiling reports and maintaining program documentation. The CDBG Coordinator also educates staff and the public about the program and related topics, manages competing priorities, and collaborates with various internal and external entities. Additional duties include administrative tasks, direct resident assistance, and potential overtime work.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in planning, public administration, finance, social work, nonprofit management, or related field from an accredited college or university.
Three years of experience working with government grants.
Ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as the job requires.
Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and goals of the city and the division.
Knowledge of the structure, purpose, and administration of government grant programs.
Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local regulations and reporting requirements of government grant programs.
Knowledge of the city’s current plans, studies, and reports related to housing and community development.
Skill in organization and attention to detail.
Skill with Microsoft computer programs, as well as spreadsheet and accounting programs.
Skill in effective communication techniques, both oral and written.
Skill in handling sensitive and stressful situations with tact and diplomacy.
Skill in understanding and responding to customer needs.
Skill in addressing multiple demands and meeting deadlines.
Ability to work with economically and culturally diverse people and groups.
Ability to exercise initiative and sound judgment.
Ability to listen well and communicate effectively orally and in writing with various audiences.
Ability to conduct research, analyze statistic data, prepare documents, and compile technical reports.
Ability to monitor and track projects and budgets.
Ability to enforce regulations and document regulatory non-compliance issues.
Ability to organize information in a clear and logical format.
Ability to research and analyze issues and to develop strategies and recommendations to address them.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, representatives of other agencies and organizations, other departments, and members of the community.
Ability to sit, reach, lift, finger, grasp, feel, talk, hear, and make repetitive motions.
Ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
Close visual acuity.

Nice To Haves

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

Administer and implement the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, projects, and activities.
Ensure program activities comply with federal, state, and city regulations.
Assist with or produce the Consolidated Plan, Annual Action Plan, CAPER, and related documents and amendments.
Identify community needs related to community development and affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents.
Evaluate current programs to determine if priority needs are being addressed.
Communicate information on grant programs, plans, and opportunities to local nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, city departments, and residents.
Encourage qualified organizations and city departments to apply for CDBG funding.
Coordinate the application process for CDBG funds.
Complete assessments on grant funding applications to determine eligibility, risk, and ranking.
Gather information, hire consultants, and/or complete Environmental Review Records (ERR) for CDBG funded projects.
Draft consultation letters with internal departments and agencies for review.
Post necessary public notifications.
Draft U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) forms related to the ERR, obtain signatures, and maintain files.
Prepare agreements and memorandums of understanding between CDBG subrecipients and the City.
Provide technical assistance to organizations and grant subrecipients on the CDBG process.
Provide technical assistance on labor-related acts for construction projects, including requests for bids and contracts.
Present technical information at pre-bid and pre-construction meetings.
Monitor all CDBG funded activities for compliance with contracts, budgets, environmental reviews, deadlines, and regulations.
Ensure grant recipients submit required reporting information.
Review reports and enter information into the Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) and other tracking software.
Conduct site visits and inspections of projects and regular monitoring of CDBG participants.
Identify and document regulatory non-compliance issues and guide subrecipients to resolution.
Review invoices and project change requests.
Submit expenditure of funds for authorization.
Track activity balances.
Provide monthly updates on projects, financial status, agreements, expirations, SAM status, IDIS status, environmental compliance, and drawdown requests.
Enter, modify, and retrieve data from HUD’s IDIS, keeping files current and resolving HUD flags.
Maintain the City's Letters of Certifications for CDBG and HOME signatories annually.
Compile data for and/or complete HUD-required demographic, environmental, economic, financial, and SHPO reports.
Review and update the city's SHPO agreement as needed.
Develop project schedules, ensure processes stay on schedule, and update the CDBG team on progress.
Maintain CDBG-related policies, procedures, and grant recipient instruction materials.
Establish, organize, and maintain administrative and activity files.
Prepare documents, reporting templates, reports, public notices, and authorization forms.
Assist supervisor with projects and urgent requests.
Keep up-to-date with new HUD policies, procedures, and annual funding allocations.
Respond to inquiries regarding grant-related questions by researching answers and providing technical assistance.
Promote and educate city staff, residents, and organizations on the City's CDBG program, fair housing, and housing needs assessments.
Manage competing priorities to meet grant deadlines.
Attend and host CDBG/HOME user groups, conferences, and training events.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with team members, staff from all departments, other governments, and sub-recipient organizations.
Assist with administrative duties and provide direct assistance to residents.
May be required to work overtime.
Perform other duties as assigned.