Greeley Urban Renewal Authority

The Greeley Urban Renewal Authority (GURA) is the administrator of the City’s federal grants from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that provide funding for a wide range of housing and neighborhood assistance activities, particularly to the benefit of low-moderate- income residents and neighborhoods. As an urban renewal authority, it is the manager of four Tax Increment Districts which provide for commercial rehabilitation and development within the urban renewal boundaries. Additionally, GURA has oversight of some City programs (such as the G-Hope Down Payment Assistance Program) and is involved in affordable housing and other City-provided redevelopment incentives.

Annual Process for Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Program Grant

Community Development Block Grants are grants provided to larger cities and urban counties by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop viable communities through the provision of funds for decent housing, suitable living environments, and opportunities to expand economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income (LMI) households. The City of Greeley annually receives approximately $840,000, 70% of which must be used to the benefit of low- moderate-income households and/or neighborhoods. CDBG is an important tool for helping the City tackle challenges facing low-income residents of the community. The HOME Investment Partnership Program grant is specifically to support affordable housing. The City receives approximately $300,000 in HOME funds annually.

Application Information: The 2023 application process is now closed.

Public Involvement: HUD requires a process by which the public can be involved with in the approval of the federal budgets and to offer comments. The City encourages anyone interested in knowing more about these federal grants to call the Greeley Urban Renewal Authority at 970-350-9380 or to participate during the CDBG annual process through one of the following:

June 16, 2022 – Neighborhood meeting to learn about the federal grants, how the City has used the grants, and what the current grant priorities are. City Center North, 1100 10th Street, Room 1107, 12:00-1:00;
July 7, 2022 – Neighborhood meeting (see June 16th description above). Greeley Recreation Center, 651 10th Avenue, Room 102, 4:00-5:00;
August 10, 2022 – Meeting begins at 4:00 p.m. via Zoom. GURA Board public hearing (to recommend a budget to City Council for 2023);
If you wish to attend the GURA Board public hearing or make comment and need to access the meeting or document other than as noted above, please contact the Greeley Urban Renewal Authority at least 72 hours prior to the meeting or need for a document other than in written English. City Council Chambers is fully accessible. For other City Council reasonable accommodations, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 970-350-9740 or by email at cityclerk@greeleygov.com;
August 11, 2022-September 11, 2022 – Written comments on the proposed 2023 CDBG and HOME budgets 2023 Annual Action Plan (which contains the budgets and additional information on how the City works with these grants and its low-moderate-income population) will be accepted and responded to by GURA. Email comments to carol.larsen@greeleygov.com or mail to GURA, Attn: Carol Larsen, 1100 10th Street, Suite 402, Greeley, CO). The 2023 Annual Action Plan can be viewed here and is available for review at the four local libraries. A copy of the Annual Action Plan may also be requested by contacting GURA;
Public hearing with City Council is October 4, 2022. Find information on how to attend and/or speak at this public hearing on City Council’s webpage;
If accommodations are needed to review the 2023 Annual Action Plan, please contact GURA.

Additional information on CDBG can be found here.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

What is CDBG?

Community Development Block Grants are grants provided to larger cities and urban counties by the U. S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help develop viable communities by providing funds for decent housing, suitable living environments, and opportunities to expand economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income (LMI) households. The City of Greeley annually receives approximately $840,000, 70% of which must be used to the benefit of low- to moderate-income households and/or neighborhoods. CDBG is an important tool for helping the City tackle challenges facing the community. Greeley has received CDBG funds for more than 30 years. The City’s five-year priorities for use of the CDBG can be found in the flyers linked below.

What is CDBG Flyer (English)
What is CDBG Flyer (Spanish)

CDBG Application Process

The City's CDBG application process begins June 1 annually, with a budget approved by City Council in October (for use of funds in the year following approval). Applications are only accepted outside of the normal process with unusual circumstances. The links below provide information on the CDBG application process.

Single-family, Owner-occupied Housing Rehab Grant Program

Emergency grants up to $7,500 are available on a one-time basis to single-family, owner-occupants with incomes considered by HUD as low (at or below 50% of Area Median Income as established by HUD; check with GURA for current maximum incomes). Complete an application or contact us at 970-350-9380for additional information.

Housing rehabilitation application (English)
Housing rehabilitation application (Spanish)

CDBG is a federal grant program through the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Find information on CDBG, the Housing Rehab Grant activity, and federal cross-cutting issues associated with CDBG (such as Section 3) here, as well as information on the 2023 CDBG application process, which begins June 1, 2022 (subject to change; check back throughout the summer of 2022 for updated information).

HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME)

What is the HOME Investment Partnership Program?

The HOME Investment Partnership Program is a federal grant to the City to assist in providing affordable housing. The City receives approximately $300,000 annually to assist developers of affordable housing products: multi-family developments and single-family development. The HOME funds may be combined with other development financing, such as CDBG, funds from the State of Colorado, Private Activity Bonds, and/or Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. Through the HOME Program, which the City has received for nearly 30 years, the City has supported housing developments for persons with disabilities, for seniors, for migrant workers and farm laborers, and other developments for low-income persons. The City has also provided significant support with HOME funds for Habitat for Humanity developments. HOME funds may be applied for by developers year-round as funds are available. Many federal restrictions apply; please contact GURA staff prior to submitting an application.

The HOME Investment Partnership Program is another federal grant through HUD. It provides funds for to assist with the City’s affordable housing needs. Funds are available to assist developers of affordable housing or for multi-family rehab, if the developments will serve/serve the low-income population. Find application and other pertinent HOME grant information here.

Other Federal Regulatory Requirements

Section 3

Section 3 is a program of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that requires that recipients of certain HUD financial assistance (such as the City) to provide training, employment, contracting and other economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons, especially those persons who receive government assistance for housing, and to businesses that provide economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons (to the greatest extend feasible). The City has Section 3 responsibilities under some of the activities it supports with CDBG, HOME, and other HUD grant funds. HUD provides a website specific to Section 3 at: https://www.hud.gov/section3. Information there could be beneficial to business concerns and low-income workers.

Fair Housing

What is the Fair Housing Act?

The Fair Housing Act protects people in protected classes from discrimination when they are renting or buying a home, getting a mortgage, seeking housing assistance, or engaging in other housing-related activities. Additional protections apply to federally-assisted housing. Classes protected under the Fair Housing Act are: Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Familial Status, and Disability. Colorado adds to those protected classes: Creed, Sexual Orientation, Marital Status, and Ancestry.

Fair Housing Act and People with Disabilities: Know Your Rights (PDF)

What is the Fair Housing Act NOT?

The Fair Housing Act does not protect persons of low-income or age. It does not address the condition of a housing unit or rent increases. There are exemptions within The Act. HUD provides a Fair Housing webpage, which includes instructions on how to file a fair housing complaint.

Find information on other federal requirements associated with the CDBG and HOME grants here, including information on Section 3 and Fair Housing.

Developer Assistance for Affordable Housing

In its 2020-2024 planning, the City identified the support for affordable housing as a high priority. Support is being made available through several means, including CDBG, HOME, Private Activity Bonds, and Redevelopment District Incentives. (All or none may apply to a proposed development.) Each type of funding has its own criteria and/or regulations that must be adhered to.

Applications for affordable housing activities may be submitted at any time throughout the year with awards continuing as funds are available. Contact GURA prior to submittal of an application.

Affordable Housing Application Part 1
Affordable Housing Application Part 2
Redevelopment District Incentives
Private Activity Bonds

Find information here for incentives in the Redevelopment District and Private Activity Bonds.

Federal Plans, Reports, and Studies

Plans

Reports

Studies

Information is available here on the city’s required plans, reports, and studies associated with the CDBG and HOME grant programs.

Greeley Urban Renewal Authority (GURA)

"Urban Renewal" is an economic development tool used by local governments to economically revitalize areas of "blight" through public investments that stimulate private development. Colorado's urban renewal statute can be used for both development and redevelopment and provides local authorities with tools, such as tax increment financing, to encourage urban renewal activities.

The Greeley Urban Renewal Authority (GURA) conducted surveys in areas with suspected blight, and as a result formed four Tax Increment Districts: Greeley Mall; Great Western Sugar, 10th Street Corridor, and East 8th Street. Tax increment funds may be available in each of those districts to promote economic stability and/or redevelopment and are identified below. For more information on urban renewal authorities, tax increment districts and tax increment financing, or the City's Tax Increment Districts, please contact GURA.

GURA may also offer other redevelopment incentives from time-to-time utilizing funds other than its federal HUD grants or funds from Tax Increment Districts. Currently, the following loan program is offered. Contact GURA for additional information.

Redevelopment and TIF District Combined Map

Tax Increment District Programs

10th Street Commercial Corridor Facade Grant Program

Private land owners or businesses with property in this Corridor who want to make physical improvements to their property may apply for financial assistance. The funds for this program are provided through the City's special Tax Increment Financing designation for the corridor, which makes financial assistance available to support physical improvements to property in the area.

10th St. Facade Grant Program Application

Other Non-federal GURA-Administered Redevelopment Programs

Commercial Property and Facade Improvement Program

Owners of commercial buildings in the City's Redevelopment District (which encompasses all Tax Increment Districts, but also a larger area) are eligible for low-interest loan assistance for certain building and facade improvement projects.

GURA Commercial Property & Facade Improvement Application

GURA Studies and Urban Renewal Plans

GURA Board of Commisioners Minutes

Recent meeting documents are available below, or contact us at 970-350-9774 for additional information.

Information is here on commercial property façade improvement programs, Urban Renewal studies and plans, and GURA Board of Commissioners minutes.

Other City Programs

The City offers other programs that are administered through GURA that may benefit persons looking at home ownership or to developers within the Redevelopment District. Information on these special City programs can be found below. GURA, as a division of the Economic Health and Housing Department, also provides knowledge and assistance as needed for other City programs, such as implementation of the Strategic Housing Plan and the City's Redevelopment Incentive Program (also below).

Greeley Home Ownership Program for Employees

The City of Greeley has established a pilot Home Owner Program for Employees (G-HOPE) to promote more home ownership in Greeley's Redevelopment District and around the University of Northern Colorado campus. Through the program, down payment assistance is available to regular full-time employees of the major employers in this area:

Greeley City Government;
University of Northern Colorado;
School District Six;
Banner Health/North Colorado Medical Center;
North Range Behavioral Health;
Sunrise Community Health;
Frontier Academy;
High Plains Library District;
Salida del Sol Academy;
JBS;
North Colorado Health Alliance.

Read about the program below, or contact Megan Ferguson (megan@impactdf.org) or Coren Hanscome (coren@impactdf.org) for actual loan requirements and approval process or contact GURA for more information or with specific questions.

Application for Assistance

Strategic Housing Plan

The Strategic Housing Plan was adopted in 2019 with input from a Housing Accessibility Task Force. The Economic Health and Housing Department is the lead City department and has responsibility for implementing the action items identified in the Study, with assistance from other departments.

City of Greeley Strategic Housing Plan

Redevelopment Incentive Program

To stimulate reinvestment in the City's Redevelopment District, the City provides tools to address redevelopment project 'gap financing' on a case-by-case basis for projects that will improve the economic performance of the area with complementary development. The document linked below provides a summary of incentives:

2018 Redevelopment Incentive Program Summary

Information is here on the G-Hope Down Payment Assistance Program, the Strategic Housing Plan, Redevelopment Incentive Program, and other city programs as are currently available.