Community Development

Responsibilities


The City of Bossier City Community Development serves as an agent to assess and serve the community needs by planning, collaborating and developing programs.  This department offers services for housing rehabilitation, public services and business development. 
The Department of Community Development, through the consolidated strategy and action plan, sets specific goals and provides for the action needed to achieve those goals. The CDD is primarily funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Shelter Grant funds through the State, other varying Federal and State grant funds from time to time and receives some city funds. The funding of projects helps achieve the National Objectives as determined by Congress for the use of Community Development Block Grant funds. 

The department is responsible for preparing the 5-year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan, as well as the Analysis Impediments to Fair Housing Choice and other required documents. The staff prepares requests for proposal to be disseminated to prospective sub-recipients, statements of qualifications as well as legal notices.  The office collaborates with non-profit service providers and completes environmental reviews for all the covered sub-recipients within the Bossier City limits.  A large portion of the CDBG funding goes toward Housing Rehabilitation programs for low to moderate-income families.  Another portion of the funding goes toward replacement of substandard streets, drainage, street lighting, sewer and water lines, and parks and recreation facilities in areas that have low to moderate income populations. 

Through the State Department we receive Emergency Shelter Grant Funds (ESG).  These funds provide help for homelessness and to assist in eliminating homelessness in Bossier City.

Listed below are the breakdowns of some of the programs that the Community Development Department provides:

Single Family Housing Rehabilitation


Applications process for this program starts in January of each year.  Applications can only be retrieved for the MONTH of January.  After the 31st of January no other application for this specific program is issued. The level of funding based on inspection of property can start at $1000 to 24,999.00.  The purpose of this program is to bring a home up to local and federal housing quality standards. Criteria for eligibility of this program are listed below:

  • Cannot have over $7,500 in any bank/financial institution.
  • Must own the home and CANNOT OWN any other property.
  • Contractor must have complete access to the home, inside and out during normal working hours (7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
  • Home MUST BE CLEAN AND ORDERLY prior to work beginning.
  • Must own the owned the home for at least one(1) year.
  • Meet income and mortgage guidelines set by the Department of HUD.
  • Current on Mortgage payments and property taxes.
  • Must reside within the city limits of Bossier City.
  • Contractor must have complete access to the home, inside and out.
  • If any of the surfaces to be worked on are found to contain lead, all residents may be relocated during the rehab process.
  • Utilities must be on in the house.

Eligible Owner

  • Applicant(s) are eligible for 1 full rehab after a 10-year period.
  • Income does not exceed 80% of the median income for the MSA area based on family size.
  • Must own the property and have true title.
  • Cannot be in Bankruptcy

Eligible Property

  • Any single-family dwelling unit occupied for 1 year as a principal residence by the owner and family, including a dwelling that is a duplex unit, in which the 1 unit of the dwelling is an eligible property.
  • The property value after rehab must not exceed the current 203 (b) mortgage limit for the area/type of property being assisted.

Ineligible Property

  • Any residence that is a Mobile home is not eligible.
  • Any residence that contains two (2) or more rental units is not eligible.

Emergency Housing Rehabilitation

To qualify for emergency rehabilitation, the condition of a home must pose an imminent and extreme threat to life, health, safety, or one in which at any moment lives may be in jeopardy because of a code violation.

  • The applicant must qualify by meeting the following basic requirements:
  • Must own the home and CANNOT OWN any other property.
  • Cannot have over $7,500 in any bank/financial institution.
  • Contractor must have complete access to the home, inside and out during normal working hours (7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
  • Home MUST BE CLEAN AND ORDERLY prior to work beginning.
  • Must have owned the home for at least one (1) year.
  • Meet income and mortgage guidelines set by the Department of HUD.
  • Current on Mortgage payments.
  • Must reside within the city limits of Bossier City.
  • Cannot be in Bankruptcy

Micro-Loans for Business Development


This micro-loan program is designed to lend up to $15,000 to a low-to-moderate income person who desires to start a small business or and low to moderate individual who requires additional capital to increase the growth of their business. Funding from this program may be used to finance purchases of equipment, inventory and supplies or for physical expansion of a business operation. The business must benefit low-to-moderate income persons by creating or retaining jobs. 
Additional details include:
  • Loan amount is $5,000 to $15,000.
  • Required to create jobs for low-income persons, which must be documented each year for the term of the loan.
  • Terms of 36 to 180 months amortization at 6% interest.

Eligible Uses

  • Acquisition of fixed assets and working capital loans not to exceed 50% of the loan.
  • Construction/renovation is subject to Federal Labor Standards and Historic Preservation requirements.
  • Fixed assets including acquisition of necessary equipment for the business.
  • Renovation of existing facilities to accommodate the proposed business or business expansion.

Ineligible Uses 

  • Speculative activity, i.e. - developers, real estate investments, etc.
  • Purchase of real estate for operation of the business.
  • Nonprofit businesses or activities.

Public Service Grants

 
This program provides funding to community based, not-for-profit organizations that implement programs and/or projects addressing priority housing, non-housing, homeless/special needs, or human services. Only organizations with non-profit status, 501 (c) (3), and/or are certified Community Housing Development Corporations (CHDC) are eligible to receive funding. Requests for proposals are requested each July for the next year's program funding. These grants are for the benefit of low to moderate-income persons only and that reside within the city limits of Bossier City.

Eligible Activities

Examples of activities include, but are not limited to:
  • Child care
  • Educational programs
  • Services for senior citizens
  • Job training
  • Health care
  • Fair housing activities
  • Drug abuse counseling and treatment
  • Youth programs for low to moderate income persons.
  • Must be in operation for at least 1 year.
  • The service must benefit low-to-moderate income persons.

Ineligible Activities


  • Duplication of city wide programs already in existence.
  • General administrative expenses of an organization. 

Emergency Shelter Grant

 Sub grants are available only to 501c (3) non-profits not individuals. Requests for proposals are requested each spring from qualified sub-recipients.

Eligible Activities

  • Administration
  • Essential services
  • Homeless prevention
  • Operating costs such as maintenance, insurance, rent, etc.