•  
  •  

Home / Community & Economic Development / Community Development / CDBG/Home/ESG

CDBG/Home/ESG

NOTICE
CITY OF BETHLEHEM CDBG PROGRAM
NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
FOR TIERED PROJECTS
 
Date of Posting: January 7, 2026
 
City of Bethlehem
10 East Church Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-865-7085
 
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that these notices shall satisfy separate, but related, procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken City of Bethlehem to undertake a project known as the Housing Rehabilitation: City-wide (Tier 1 Review) (Project). On or about January 15, 2026, the City of Bethlehem will submit a request to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the release of Community Development Block Grant funds under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, to undertake the following projects in connection with a proposed HUD environmental review record (ERR).

Link to Draft ERR

Tier 1 Broad Review Project/Program Title: Housing – Housing Rehabilitation:  City-wide (Tier 1 Review)

Purpose: To increase the availability of suitable housing for income-eligible households in the City of Bethlehem.

Location: Available on a city-wide basis.  Specific addresses to be determined.

Project/Program Description: The proposed Program would provide residential repairs to low- and moderate-income homeowners of owner-occupied homes. Program activities would include, but are not limited to, roof repair or replacement; painting previously painted surfaces; window and/or door replacements; air conditioning repair, Americans with Disabilities Act improvements; and other activities similar in scope, and in the future, potentially certain multi-unit rehabilitation projects. The Program would begin in January 2026 and run through December 2030, where the City of Bethlehem would provide Program Year 2025 through 2029 CDBG funding of approximately $1,793,290 (total across all program years) for repair of approximately 30-40 single-family residential units occupied by income-eligible households per program year.  The actual annual amount will be identified in each Annual Action Plan in the referenced program year range.  Tier 2 site-specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review for each address under this program when addresses become known.

Level of Environmental Review Citation: 24 CFR Part 58.35(a)(3)(i)

Tier 2 Site-Specific Review: The site-specific reviews will cover the following laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review: (1) Airport Hazards, (2) Flood Insurance, (3) Contaminated and Toxic Substances, (4) Historic Preservation, and (5) Noise Abatement and Control.

Mitigation Measures/Conditions/Permits (if any): When addresses are determined and Tier 2 site-specific reviews have been conducted, any environmental factors requiring mitigation, conditions or permits will be addressed in a manner consistent with governing regulations and the City’s written strategy, as applicable. Any sites or scopes of work that are confirmed to be beyond the constraints established by the Tier 1 review will receive a separate environmental review. For airport hazards, the City will document a project site’s location in relation to area airports. For flood insurance, the City will document the project site’s corresponding Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Flood Insurance Rate Map and will require flood insurance for projects located in special flood hazard areas. For contamination and toxic substances, the City will determine if each project site is free of hazardous materials, contamination, toxic chemicals and gases (including radon), and radioactive substances, where a hazard could affect the health and safety of occupants or conflict with the intended utilization of the property. For historic preservation, the City will review an existing programmatic agreement with the State Historic Preservation Officer for covered activities and will determine a project’s impact on historic resources for projects involving activities not covered by the existing programmatic agreement. For noise abatement and control, the City will document a project site’s proximity to noise generators (i.e., roads, railroads, and airports), and will calculate and document ambient noise levels on each project site, as necessary.

Estimated Project Cost for PY 2025: $358,658

The activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements per 24 CFR 58.35(a)(3)(i). An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the City of Bethlehem Department of Community and Economic Development, Bethlehem City Hall, 10 East Church Street, Bethlehem, PA, and may be examined or copied weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  An electronic copy of the ERR may be accessed online at the following website: //www.bethlehem-pa.gov/Community-Economic-Development/Community-Development/CDBG-Home. 
 
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Bethlehem Department of Community and Economic Development, Bethlehem City Hall, 10 East Church Street, Bethlehem, PA, 18018.  All comments received by January 15, 2026, will be considered by the City of Bethlehem prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.  Additional project information is contained in the ERR.  The ERR will be made available to the public for review either electronically or by US mail.  Please submit your request and/or comments by US mail to the address noted above or via email to enehmeh@bethlehem-pa.gov with a copy to rvidoni@bethlehem-pa.gov. 
 
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
The City of Bethlehem certifies to HUD that J. William Reynolds, in his capacity as Mayor, or his authorized designee, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied.  HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City of Bethlehem to use Program funds.
 
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will consider objections to its release of funds and the City of Bethlehem’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) The certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer or other officer of the City of Bethlehem; (b) The City of Bethlehem has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulation at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) The grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs, or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) Another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality.
Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec.58.76) and shall be addressed to the Philadelphia Office of Community Planning and Development at CPDRROFPHI@hud.gov or 801 Market Street, 12th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

 
Training Library
HOME Resource Library

The City of Bethlehem accepts applications for HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funding on a rolling basis. The HOME Program is administered by HUD and was established in 1990 to assist low-income households. 

HOME funds are intended to: Increase the supply of quality affordable housing for lower-income households; Expand nonprofit housing provider capacity; Strengthen government capacity to provide housing; and Leverage private-sector investments in housing.

The program funds a variety of eligible housing activities including direct rental and purchase assistance and building, acquiring, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or ownership.

Organizations with potential HOME projects are encouraged to contact the City to discuss their plans. Call or email Robert Vidoni, Housing and Community Development Administrator, at 610-997-5731 or rvidoni@bethlehem-pa.gov if you would like to discuss potential projects. 

The City's HOME application is available on its Neighborly portal at https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/BETHLEHEMPA/participant

Additional information can be found at the links below. 
 
Plans and Reports
Environmental Reviews

HUD makes publicly available environmental review records categorized as environmental assessments, CEST and CEST that converts to Exempt. Click here to access HUD's website and the City's environmental reviews.

CDBG ApplicationS and CDBG RESOURCES

2026 CDBG Applications - CDBG Applications are currently closed. 
Pending 2026 availibility of federal funding, we anticipate that the next cycle of applications will likely open in early 2026. For more information, or to discuss potential future applications or project eligibility, please contact Robert G. Vidoni, at rvidoni@bethlehem-pa.gov or 610-997-5731. For information on how to apply for CDBG for the next cycle, please see the Community Development Block Grant Application Guide.

CDBG Hearing Notice
Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds for Tiered Projects
HUD Environmental Review Record (ERR)

CDBG RESOURCES

2025 CDBG Income Limits
2025 CDBG Income Self-Certification

 

 

HOME Application

Applications for the City of Bethlehem's HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) are reviewed on a rolling basis.  Apply online through Neighborly:

Neighborly.jpg

Fair Housing
Equal Housing Opportunity logo

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, national origin, and disability. It also requires that all federal programs relating to housing and urban development be administered in a manner that affirmatively furthers fair housing.


North Penn Legal Services is the City of Bethlehem's Fair Housing partner. More information about Fair Housing is available on North Penn's website, and on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's website. 

Complaints
Persons who believe they have experienced discrimination in housing rental, sales, or financing because of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, disability, or familial status can contact any of the following entities:

North Penn Legal Services
Bethlehem Office
559 Main Street, Suite 200
Bethlehem, PA 18018
Housing discrimination line: 610-317-5322
https://www.nplspa.org/

City of Bethlehem Fair Housing Officer
Jennifer M. Swett
JSwett@bethlehem-pa.gov 
610-865-7099

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint

 

Program Contacts

Robert G. Vidoni, Esq. 
Housing & Community Development Administrator, rvidoni@bethlehem-pa.gov
610-997-5731