The primary purpose of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG’s) are to benefit low-to-moderate income persons.

From the authorization and initial funding of the program in 1974, the City of Altoona receive funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as an Entitlement Community.

From 1974 through 1981 the County of Blair, eight (8) boroughs and fifteen (15) townships also receive funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as Metropolitan Balance Communities under a competitive program.

Between 1982 through 1984, the program was administered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by the Department of Community and Economic Development as a discretionary and competitive grant program. As a result of Act 179 of 1984 and starting with the FY 1985 program, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania established Entitlement Communities, of which several are located in Blair County.

Municipalities in Blair County that receive independent entitlements from the Department of Community and Economic Development are; Boroughs of Hollidaysburg and Tyrone, and the Townships of Antis, Blair, Frankstown and Logan.

The County of Blair receives entitlements on behalf of the remaining non-entitlement municipalities; six (6) boroughs [ Bellwood, Duncansville, Martinsburg, Newry, Roaring Spring, Tunnelhill (part) and Williamsburg] and eleven (11) townships [ Allegheny, Catharine, Freedom, Greenfield, Huston, Juniata, North Woodbury, Snyder, Taylor, Tyrone and Woodbury ]. The Township of Antis and the Township of Blair receive their own entitlements and their applications for funds are submitted along with the application for the County of Blair.

In 1985, the Board of Commissioners of Blair County, by resolution, designated the Blair County Planning Commission to administer the CDBG program. This administration includes application preparation, environmental review, project monitoring, additional administrative activities and closeout.