Are you aiming to boost the success of your federally funded initiatives?
With a track record of excellence in implementing and managing HUD, FEMA, Treasury, and other federal agency programs, CohnReznick is your trusted advisor. Let us accelerate your journey to improved outcomes.
KW Consultants offers its clients customized support in all aspects of the Community Development Block Grant Programs (CDBG/CDBG-DR/CDBG-CV) and other initiatives. Whether a client is seeking an objective analysis of existing programs, assistance in developing and implementing new programs, or training staff and local governments on statutory and regulatory requirements, KW Consultants has a solution to meet their needs.
Tetra Tech provides CDBG & CDBG-DR solutions to achieve rapid recovery and long-term resiliency. We are proud to support COSCDA and our work to build vibrant, resilient communities.
ICF helps communities withstand and overcome natural disasters. We bring deep regulatory and implementation expertise to accelerate a whole community’s recovery while prioritizing HUD compliance every step of the way.
Early registration ends at 5pm.
Open to all conference attendees.
COSCDA is pleased to have senior leadership from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide opening remarks regarding HUD’s policy direction and new initiatives launched under the Trump Administration.
SPEAKER: Bryan Horn, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Setting the tone and context for the conference, Mr. Torres will provide remarks that address the current state of housing policy in Washington, including the momentous time and potential for passage of new housing legislation. He will also describe how housing policies impact homelessness, connecting the dots between these two spheres.
SPEAKER: Francis Torres, Director, Housing and Infrastructure Projects at the Bipartisan Policy Center
MODERATOR: Rebecca Frawley Wachtel, COSCDA President and Tax Credit and HOME Program Director, Massachusetts; Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
Using CDBG to Convert Underutilized Buildings to Affordable Housing
States have often used CDBG funds to revitalize buildings such as schools, retail spaces, and overnight lodging facilities into permanent, affordable housing. The presenters for this session will give an overview of this national trend. This session will include COSCDA members describing how to effectively manage CDBG for such projects, conversion examples, and pitfalls to avoid.
SPEAKER: Mollie Kaylor, Director of Housing and Community Development, NH Community Development Finance Authority
SPEAKER: Felicity Gasser, Community Development Branch Chief, California Department of Housing and Community Development
SPEAKER: Julia Connell, Community Development Specialist, Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development
SPEAKER: Tamra Fabian, Director, Bureau of Community Development, Wisconsin Department of Administration
MODERATOR: Tricia Davis Winter, COSCDA Board Member and Director of Housing and Community Development, Utah Department of Workforce Services
Revised HOME Final Rule
The HOME final rule was issued and subsequently revised by HUD in early 2025. This session will have a presentation that reviews these changes and remarks from states that have begun implementing the changes. There will be an opportunity to raise questions and consider the options of how to comply with the revised final rule.
SPEAKER: Virginia Sardone, former Director, Office of Affordable Housing, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
SPEAKER: Jennifer DiGiallonardo, Federal Housing Assets Team Manager, Division of Housing, Colorado Department of Local Affairs
SPEAKER: Keli Reynolds, Assistant Director, Housing Contract Administration, Single Family Programs, Kentucky Housing Corporation
MODERATOR: Bill Lord, Director, Community Housing, Tennessee Housing Development Agency
Addressing New CoC NOFO Requirements
HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is imposing new policies and program requirements that impact homelessness service providers differently than other HUD-funded programs. This session will review the current status of the NOFO. The structure of the session will include a roundtable discussion of conference attendees to share their efforts and tactics to comply with the NOFO changes.
SPEAKER: Katie Kitchin, Senior Advisor for External Affairs, Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)
SPEAKER: Marcy Thompson, Vice President of Programs and Policy, National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)
SPEAKER: Jenna Pomponi, Director of Advocacy and Federal Programs, COSCDA
MODERATOR: Joe Tielke, Continuum of Care Administrator, South Dakota, South Dakota Statewide Continuum of Care
Challenging Financial Requirements: Managing Multiple DR Grants & Recaptured DR Funds
Two significant financial responsibilities of states receiving CDBG-Disaster Recovery funds are: juggling multiple disaster recovery grants and allocating recaptured funds for other uses. This session will cover the financial requirements of both situations and offer strategies for states to consider. The session presenters will include COSCDA members that have managed these situations previously.
SPEAKER: Jane Brogan, Director, CohnReznick
SPEAKER: Kathleen Tremblay, Program Director, CDBG-Disaster Recovery, Georgia Department of Community Affairs
SPEAKER: Travis Weber, Branch Manager for Housing and Community Projects, Kentucky Department for Local Government
SPEAKER: Alexandra Gamble, Deputy Director, Regulatory Policy, Community Development & Revitalization, Texas General Land Office
SPEAKER: Molly Keller, Deputy Director of Operations and Chief of Staff, Community Development & Revitalization, Texas General Land Office
MODERATOR: Angela Susten, Director, Center for Community and Housing Development, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
Creative Options to Train Local CDBG Administrators
Knowledgeable local managers of CDBG are critical to ensure compliance with HUD regulations. The recent policy changes and new grant agreement requirements are an example of the need for regular updates as well. This session will include information about how states offer training to local CDBG administrators (sub-grantees), particularly using creative methods such as remote or self-paced training modules.
SPEAKER: Lisa Maxwell, Deputy Director, Mississippi Development Authority
SPEAKER: Justin Fair, Program Officer, Community Development Programs, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
SPEAKER: Andrew Hayman, CDBG Director, Kansas Department of Commerce
SPEAKER: Kathleen Weissenberger, Principal and Owner, KW Consultants, LLC
MODERATOR: Jean Noble, Grants Division Director, Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Effective Financial Management of HOME Funds: Handling Program Income, Reuse & Recaptured Funds
There are nuances and program requirements that states must be aware of in managing program income and recaptured funds. This session will cover key elements to help states comply when managing such funds – allowing state recipients or subrecipients to retain program income and managing reuse of recaptured funds.
SPEAKER: Rebecca Frawley Wachtel, COSCDA President and Tax Credit and HOME Program Director, Massachusetts; Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
SPEAKER: Ariel Cisneros, Associate Director of the Office of Housing Finance and Sustainability, Division of Housing, Colorado, Department of Local Affairs
SPEAKER: Shawna LaRue Moraille, Director, ICF
MODERATOR: Kimberly Polm, HOME & HOME-ARP Program Manager, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
CoC Collaboration with Other Sectors (Early Childhood Education, Schools, Criminal Justice, Child Welfare, and Workforce Services)
CoCs are wide reaching in the range of services that they must address. Often the focus becomes housing and basic services (food and income supports). However, CoCs are charged with a broader range of collaboration. This session will focus on how CoCs can better connect with that broader range of service providers such as early childhood education, the public school system, criminal justice, child welfare, and workforce assistance programs.
SPEAKER: Katie Kitchin, Senior Advisor for External Affairs, Corporation for Supportive Housing
SPEAKER: Steve DiLella, Director, Individual and Family Support Programs Unit, Connecticut Department of Housing
SPEAKER: Rosy L. Falcon, Homeless Programs Manager, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
MODERATOR: Whitney Whitaker, Homelessness Resolution Program Manager, Division of Housing Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Model Economic Revitalization & Mitigation Activities
CDBG-Disaster Recovery funds can be directed to a wide range of activities to address the impacts of disasters. Economic revitalization projects post some problematic requirements that state agencies must address, especially tie-back to the qualifying disaster. With limited resources, states must also demonstrate how using funds for this activity still allows them to address all unmet needs. This session will include information about program requirements and states that have undertaken economic revitalization projects.
SPEAKER: Marion McFadden, Vice President for Disaster Recovery, IEM
SPEAKER: Tina M. Hines, Staff Officer/Program Manager, Community Incentives Division, Mississippi Development Authority
SPEAKER: Lecia Behenna, Deputy Director, Office of Long-Term Resiliency, Division of Community Development, FloridaCommerce
SPEAKER: Micaela Coner, Assistant Executive Director of Policy, Planning, and Regional Support Operations, Louisiana Office of Community Development
MODERATOR: Chris Whitz, Managing Director, Federal Programs, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
For the first time in decades, Congress is working on major housing and community development legislation that could dramatically reshape HUD CPD programs: the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. This session features congressional staff from the House of Representatives who helped conceptualize parts of the legislation. States will gain insights into possible changes to HUD programs and a potential path forward for this landmark legislation.
SPEAKER: Kellie O’Brien, Senior Policy Advisor for Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-CA16)
SPEAKER: Eric Mendoza, Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (R-TX15)
MODERATOR: Jenna Pomponi, Director of Advocacy and Federal Programs, COSCDA
Advice on HUD’s New Grant Agreement Requirements
HUD has issued several new requirements in its grant agreements for the formula grant programs and disaster recovery. COSCDA members will share their experience on how to address these requirements such as restrictions on genders, immigration status, and compliance of subrecipients/grantees. States will be sharing any guidance that they have received from HUD for their own state to implement the changes.
SPEAKER: Gina Campo, COSCDA Board Member and Executive Director, Louisiana Office of Community Development
SPEAKER: Kimberly N. Carter, COSCDA Treasurer and Deputy Commissioner of Community Development and Finance, Georgia Department of Community Affairs
SPEAKER: Suzanne Barnard, COSCDA Vice President and Director for CDBG Programs, Texas Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Affairs
SPEAKER: Tricia Davis Winter, COSCDA Board Member and Director of Housing and Community Development, Utah Department of Workforce Services
MODERATOR: Curtis Stauffer, PMP, HDFP, COSCDA Board Member and Managing Director, Housing Contract Administration, Kentucky Housing Corporation
COSCDA staff will provide an update with the latest news about the federal budget for the current and upcoming fiscal years. The President and HUD are not the only key leadership that impacts federal programs – Congress decides how and when federal dollars flow to HUD and to grantees. The federal budget and appropriations process is beginning now, and critical decisions are being made about how much to spend on HUD programs in the upcoming fiscal year. Tess Hembree and a speaker from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) will discuss the Transportation-HUD spending bill and Congressional deliberations about HUD programs. States will gain insights into how these decisions are made, and an outlook into future funding for HUD programs.
SPEAKER: Tushar Gurjal, Senior Policy Manager, National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)
SPEAKER: Tess Hembree, Executive Director, COSCDA
MODERATOR: Jenna Pomponi, Director of Advocacy & Federal Programs, COSCDA
Stretching Boundaries of CDBG: Examples of Nontraditional Activities
States have significant flexibility in how they can use CDBG funds. There are 100 potential activities to select from in using CDBG funds. This session will provide information about some nontraditional or seldom used activities with a variety of project examples. Hearing about these uses should help states consider how to effectively manage their CDBG program. Several states will describe these uses, why those activities were undertaken, and project aspects to consider if a state chooses to fund those activities.
SPEAKER: Travis Weber, Branch Manager for Housing and Community Projects, Kentucky Department for Local Government
SPEAKER: Jennifer Domenici, Assistant Director, Housing and Community Development Division, Utah Department of Workforce Services
SPEAKER: Kathi Boatright, Program Manager, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
SPEAKER: Dominic Carew, Small Cities Team Leader, Connecticut Department of Housing
SPEAKER: Dona Sorce, Assistant Director, Community Development Programs, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
SPEAKER: Christina Carver, Division Director, Missouri Department of Economic Development
MODERATOR: Katherine Easterly Martey, COSCDA Board Member, Executive Director, New Hampshire, Community Development Finance Authority
Using New Markets Tax Credits for Housing Development
In the current environment of limited resources, the New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) can be an effective tool that leverages private sector financing to expand the development of homebuyer or rental housing. There can be limitations on how NMTC projects must be structured, particularly for rental development that must be part of a mixed use project that includes business/commercial space. This session will provide a description of NMTC, program requirements, and some model projects to help understand the potential.
SPEAKER: Brad Elphick, Partner, Novogradac
SPEAKER: Howard Smith, Principal, Smith NMTC Associates, LLC
SPEAKER: Ariel Cisneros, Associate Director of the Office of Housing Finance and Sustainability, Division of Housing, Colorado, Department of Local Affairs
MODERATOR: Felicity Gasser, Community Development Branch Chief, California Department of Housing and Community Development
Data Driven Approaches for ESG Application and Decision Making
The Method of Distribution to award ESG funds can rely on different data sets and procedures to select the best use of public funds. COSCDA members will share examples of how they use both quantitative and qualitative data to consider and approve these grants.
SPEAKER: Shaye Rabold, Continuum of Care Planning and Technical Administrator, Kentucky Housing Corporation
SPEAKER: Rosy L. Falcon, Homeless Programs Manager, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
SPEAKER: Samantha Spergel, Chief Community Programs and Services Officer, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority
SPEAKER: Gordon Calkins, Director of Individual Homelessness Systems, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
MODERATOR: Seila Mosquera-Bruno, COSCDA Board Member and Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Housing
Multifamily Housing using DR and LIHTC
Disaster Recovery funding is more effective when it leverages other resources. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) can leverage private sector financing to expand the development of housing. There are limitations on how LIHTC projects must be structured, which often varies based on state priorities. This session will provide a description of LIHTC, program requirements, and some strategies for how CDBG-DR funding can be coordinated with this housing resource.
SPEAKER: Jennifer Siegel, Affordable Housing Development Project Manager, ICF
SPEAKER: Christina Zink, Housing Program Manager – Disaster Recovery Division, Nebraska Department of Economic Development
SPEAKER: Joe Harney, Branch Manager, Federal Disaster Multifamily Recovery, California Department of of Housing and Community Development
SPEAKER: Kelvin Hill, Assistant Executive Director, Louisiana Office of Community Development
SPEAKER: Brenda Evans, Chief Operating Officer, Louisiana Housing Corporation
MODERATOR: Chuck Bearman, Director of Community Incentives, Mississippi Development Authority
Eastern Region Lunch
STATES: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont
Southern Region Lunch
STATES: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia
Western Region Lunch
STATES: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming
Midwestern Region Lunch
STATES: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin
Washington Update
COSCDA’s Director of Advocacy and Federal Programs will provide and update on legislative activity in Congress as well as regulatory and administrative actions.
SPEAKER: Jenna Pomponi, Director of Advocacy and Federal Programs, COSCDA
Key Takeaways, Insights, and Future Opportunities
Tess Hembree will provide some remarks covering the salient messages from Washington, D.C. and the status of COSCDA’s strategic plan and potential directions in continuing its implementation.
SPEAKER: Tess Hembree, Executive Director, COSCDA
Community Development Strategy Session
Central to COSCDA’s work in Washington, DC is its coalition partners and stakeholder organization allies. This session features CDBG Coalition members who have worked with COSCDA for decades to preserve and expand the CDBG program and help shape policy decisions. The coalition members will share intelligence about HUD and community development programs, insights into the future of CDBG, and how to more effectively advocate. Session attendees will strategize with CDBG Coalition members on ideas for new initiatives and policies for these programs, as well as ways to work with HUD and Congress to improve the effectiveness of community development programs.
SPEAKER: Vicki Watson, Executive Director, National Community Development Association
SPEAKER: Josh Brandwein, Policy Director, National Association for County Community and Economic Development
SPEAKER: Jenna Pomponi, Director of Advocacy and Federal Programs, COSCDA
MODERATOR: Suzanne Barnard, COSCDA Vice President and Director for CDBG Programs, Texas Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Affairs
Housing Strategy Session
Central to COSCDA’s work in Washington, DC is its coalition partners and stakeholder organization allies. This session features HOME Coalition members who have worked with COSCDA for decades to preserve and expand the HOME program and help shape policy decisions. Coalition members will share insights about HOME and the trajectory of the first ever reauthorization bill for the program, intelligence about HUD and changes in the new administration, and how to effectively advocate for HOME. The session will also include timely updates about the LIHTC and HTF programs. Session attendees will strategize with Coalition members on ways to work with HUD and Congress in this exciting time for housing policy.
SPEAKER: Xavier Arriaga, Associate Director, Policy, Enterprise Community Partners
SPEAKER: Garth Rieman, Director of Housing Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives, National Council of State Housing Agencies
Video message from Jenna Pomponi, Director of Advocacy and Federal Programs, COSCDA
MODERATOR: Curtis Stauffer, PMP, HDFP, COSCDA Board Member and Managing Director, Housing Contract Administration, Kentucky Housing Corporation
Homelessness Strategy Session
Central to COSCDA’s work in Washington is its coalition partners and stockholder organization allies. This session features members of the Continuum of Care working group that have closely followed the CoC NOFO and other actions on homelessness programs, including parties to pending litigation. Working group members will share updates on where current litigation stands and updates on Congressional actions. Session attendees will hear intelligence sharing on HUD and changes in the new administration, and strategies on how to effectively advocate for homelessness assistance programs.
SPEAKER: Steve Berg, Chief Policy Officer, National Alliance to End Homelessness
SPEAKER: Eric Tars, Senior Policy Director, National Homeless Law Center or National Housing Law Project
Video message from Jenna Pomponi, Director of Advocacy and Federal Programs, COSCDA
MODERATOR: Steve DiLella, Director, Individual and Family Support Programs Unit, Connecticut Department of Housing
Disaster Recovery Strategy Session
Central to COSCDA’s work in Washington is its coalition partners and stakeholder organization allies. This session features Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition members who have worked with COSCDA for years on federal disaster recovery programs, including CDBG-DR and FEMA. Coalition members will share intelligence on FEMA and CDBG-DR, as well as Congressional efforts to codify the CDBG-DR program for the first time ever. Session attendees will hear about the status of FEMA and CDBG-DR grants, potential Congressional action on recent disasters, and changes in the new administration.
SPEAKER: Noah Patton, Manager of Disaster Recovery, National Low Income Housing Coalition
SPEAKER: Matt Cowles, Deputy Director, National Emergency Management Association
SPEAKER: Tess Hembree, Executive Director, COSCDA
MODERATOR: Gina Campo, COSCDA Board Member and Executive Director, Louisiana Office of Community Development
COSCDA represents the leadership role of the states as the premier voice of authority to Congress, federal and state agencies in advocating and promoting community development and affordable housing, eliminating homelessness and in providing technical assistance and increasing collaboration among state partners.
Advocate for the common community development goals of the states;
Develop policies and recommendations on community development issues;
Keep members informed on federal and state legislative and administrative developments that affect them;
Enhance the capacity of states to deal effectively and comprehensively with community development issues;
Ensure the availability of community development expertise to members;
Encourage and assist states in the development and implementation of effective community development programs; and
Facilitate the exchange of information about programs and achievements among states
