The MCDA is the City of Marlborough's authorized public agency to apply for the Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program funded by HUD. The CDBG is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. Beginning in 1974, the CDBG program is one of the longest continuously run programs at HUD and provides annual grants on a formula basis to 1,209 general units of local government and states.
The City of Marlborough is not a HUD entitlement city for the CDBG. Instead, the MCDA applies for funding through the Small Cities CDBG program, in which states award CDBG-funded grants to smaller units of general local government that carry out community development activities. Each state develops funding priorities and criteria for selecting projects annually.