Massachusetts' Early Implementation of the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program
Gao ID: 122867 November 3, 1983GAO reviewed Massachusetts' implementation of the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program and compared Massachusetts' activities under the program in 1982 with those of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 1981.
GAO found that the 1981 HUD- and 1982 State-administered programs funded similar activities: (1) housing rehabilitation; (2) public facilities; and (3) economic development. However, GAO observed that, under the Massachusetts program, nearly all the communities obtaining grants received other sources of funding for their projects whereas, under the HUD program, only about one-quarter of the grants involved other funding. GAO also found that both Massachusetts and HUD officials generally agreed that the State-administered program was equivalent to or better than the former HUD program, and most grantees and unsuccessful grant applicants provided favorable ratings on specific aspects of the Massachusetts program.