The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), administered by HUD, is the most sizable, stable, and comprehensive support for community and economic development in the US. For many jurisdictions, it is a steady source of funding dedicated to benefiting low-income individuals and communities, which allows them to focus on implementation rather than fundraising. However, the program faces considerable challenges, and real-dollar funding for the core program has shrunk tremendously over its lifetime. This brief takes stock of the evidence surrounding the CDBG program, and makes recommendations for how it should look moving forward.