The Rural Community Development Division (RCD) of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development (NCED) is tasked with promoting and facilitating community development throughout rural Nevada. The overarching objective is to build prosperity and enhance the quality of life in rural Nevada.

Community development is the process of managing change within communities and involves:

• dialogue among community members to decide their shared vision of the future
• reaching consensus on what needs to be done to achieve that vision, and 
• communication, co-operation and collaboration within the community and with resource-providers in achieving that vision.

Some of the critical issues involved in community development are:

• infrastructure development and improvement
• education and workforce development
• job creation through entrepreneurship, business development etc.
• social problems (such as affordable housing, crime, substance abuse etc.)
• enhancing cultural and recreational programs
• promoting charitable giving within local communities
• youth retention, especially in rural communities
• leadership development and civic engagement
• developing and improving the quality of governmental services
• marketing the community, and
• development of tourism and other natural resources

The Rural Community Development Division of NCED and its many partners within and external to the State of Nevada are engaged in addressing the above issues in rural Nevada.

In promoting and facilitating community development in rural Nevada, the RCD Division administers a vital community development tool known as the State and Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Established in 1982 and administered under the auspices of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), CDBG funds must be spent on projects that help achieve one of the program’s three goals which are: to provide suitable living environments, provide decent housing, or create economic opportunities in rural parts of the State. Program funds must be spent on projects which primarily serve low- and moderate-income persons.

The CDBG Program is a widely appreciated and highly flexible community development tool, built on the belief that State and local governments are best suited to determine their community development needs, and to decide how best to address those needs. The State and Small Cities CDBG Program is a true federal-state-local government partnership. The State receives its CDBG funds from the Federal Government, and uses those funds to provide grants to units of local government which implement the projects, typically using local contractors and/or non-profit organizations.

In Nevada there are 26 communities that can apply for the State CDBG funds, and communities receiving CDBG funds from the State may use the funds for many kinds of community development activities including, but not limited to:

• acquisition of property for public purposes
• construction or reconstruction of streets, water and sewer facilities, neighborhood centers, recreation facilities and other public works
• demolition
• rehabilitation of public and private buildings
• public services
• planning and capacity building activities
• assistance to nonprofit entities for community and economic development activities
• assistance to private, for-profit entities to carry out economic development activities, including assistance to micro-enterprises

For more information on the State CDBG Program and the Rural Community Development Division of NCED, contact the Commission or the local government offices at the addresses shown on this Web site.