Clearance Program
The Clearance Program provides funds to eligible applicants for clearance/demolition activities based on a competitive selection process to the extent that the funds are available. Applications have been accepted for FY 2025 and OCD-LGA is currently reviewing those applications. Awards are anticipated to be announced on April 1, 2025. The information below is specific to the FY 2024 and 2025 Clearance Program. A hard copy of the application for the FY 2026 Clearance Program is due in the OCD-LGA office by December 15, 2025. More information about the FY 2026 program requirements and application can be found here.
Eligible Applicants
Each eligible applicant may only submit one application. Eligible applicants to the State Clearance program are non-entitlement units of general local government, consisting of municipalities and parishes (42 U.S.C. 5306(d) and 42 U.S.C. 5302(a)(7)), and excludes the following entitlement areas: Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Bossier City, Hammond, Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, Jefferson Parish (including Grand Isle, Gretna, Harahan, Jean Lafitte, and Westwego), Kenner, Lafayette Parish Consolidated Government, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans, St. Tammany Parish, Shreveport, Slidell, and Thibodaux.
Eligible Activities
Proposed activities must be eligible under Section 105(a)(4) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. Each proposed activity must address the national objective of eliminating or preventing slums and blight as listed in this document. The Office of Community Development-Local Government Assistance (OCD-LGA) will only accept applications for the clearance, demolition, and the removal of residential or commercial structures on private property found to be detrimental to or endangering public safety, health, or welfare.
Ineligible Activities
While administrative fees are eligible under the Clearance Program, pre-agreement costs are not allowed.
Size of Grants
For all grants, a minimum of $150,000 including administrative costs is required. If, during the rating process, an application’s cost are reduced below the $150,000 minimum, that application will not be considered.
The State has established a funding ceiling of $250,000 for Towns and Villages and a funding ceiling of $500,000 for Cities and Parishes for the Clearance program. The State will allow applicants to request funds for administrative costs that do not exceed the ceiling amount with the following limitations. Each local government will be allowed a maximum of $50,000 in LCDBG funds for administrative costs for clearance projects. The Office of Community Development reserves the right to make adjustments to those ranges when deemed necessary. If, after a project has been funded, the scope of the project changes significantly, the State will make a determination as to the ceiling amount which will be allowed for administrative costs; this determination will be made on a case-by-case basis. In all instances, the local government may (but is not required to) retain up to five percent of the funds allowed for program administration to cover its costs of administering the LCDBG Program; such costs on the local governmental level include, but are not limited to audit fees, advertising and publication fees, staff time, workshop expenses, etc.
Funding Criteria
An application will not be considered for funding if it has an active grant under the Clearance Program or a grant funded prior to FY 2023 under any other LCDBG program.
Environmental Review Record (FY 2023 Clearance) Procedures and Forms
Determination of Environmental Review Level (Required Form)
