Most of Florida's CDCs focus their efforts more on developing affordable housing than on economic development initiatives. CDCs emphasize affordable housing due to need and the availability of government funds.
The Community Development Corporation Support and Assistance Program is an inefficient means of providing support to CDCs. The department's cost of operating the program is high, the administrative grants primarily serve to augment other sources of government assistance, and the loan programs have not performed well.
We recommend that the Legislature not re-enact the Community Development Corporation Support and Assistance Program Act.
A more efficient approach would be to redirect the program's Sadowski Act appropriations to other affordable housing programs and redirect the program's general revenue appropriations to either the general fund or to other affordable housing programs. This will reduce the department's cost to operate the program, saving about $233,000.
The Department of Community Affairs did not concur and submitted a detailed response. OPPAGA commented on each item in the response.

Locals Find State Urban Revitalization Programs Useful; More Centralized Program Information Would Be Helpful
Report 05-32 May 2005
Progress Report: Community Development Corporation Program Not Re-Enacted, But DCA Continues Monitoring
Report 99-47 April 2000

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.