PORTLAND, Maine — The City of Portland is recruiting residents to serve on its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Priority Setting Task Force, a volunteer panel that will review city priorities, research community needs, and recommend how roughly $2 million a year in federal CDBG funding should be allocated.
The application is available here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePR_sHIAb6qpOIY0iJdKWbpRUORnpN0teo0VRoSm2u1SwWmg/viewform
The task force will also have the opportunity to review and revise the city’s selection policies and procedures for the CDBG program, which is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
According to the application, Portland is seeking a diverse group of residents described as fair-minded and analytical, with familiarity with local needs tied to areas such as urban planning, public improvements, and social services. Familiarity with the CDBG program is considered helpful, but it is not required, and applicants are expected to work collaboratively and be able to reach consensus.
The application collects basic contact information, including name, residential address, and phone number, and asks questions about an applicant’s ties to the community. Applicants are asked to identify whether they are Portland residents, renters, landlords, small business owners, nonprofit staff or board members, educators, or previous members of CDBG allocation committees.
The form also asks whether the applicant lives in an eligible CDBG area and, if so, whether their household income falls below designated income limits. Applicants must disclose potential conflicts of interest, including whether they are employed by organizations that receive CDBG funds or hold contracts for CDBG-funded projects.
Another section asks applicants to rate their understanding of topic areas including urban infrastructure, economic development, affordable housing, and social services on a 0–5 scale, and to describe any expertise in those areas.
The form also includes questions about representing vulnerable populations, including senior citizens, youth, persons with disabilities, immigrants, refugees, and individuals at risk of homelessness.
The city’s outlined schedule is also substantial: the task force is expected to meet two to three times per month from March through August 2026. Applicants are asked whether they can attend at least 80% of meetings and two evening public forums, and to indicate preferred meeting days and times, as well as whether they prefer meetings in person, via Zoom, or hybrid.
In the final portion of the application, respondents are asked to explain why they want to serve and what they hope to contribute, including relevant work or volunteer experience. Applicants are also asked about their familiarity with organizing and analyzing data and any experience with grant-making, evaluation frameworks, or establishing selection criteria.
