What are categorical and block grants?

Block grants and categorical grants are funding given to state and local governments by the federal government. The key difference is that block grants can be used for any purpose decided upon by the state or city whereas categorical grants must be used for a specific, designated purpose.

Also know, what is an example of a categorical grant?

Examples of Categorical Grants Anti-poverty programs, such as Medicaid and Head Start, are categorical grants. Likewise, the national drinking age is a result of a categorical grant. In order for states to receive federal-highway-funding money, all states have to make 21 years of age the official age to drink.

Subsequently, question is, what is a block grant used for? block grant. A financial aid package that grants federal money to state and local governments for use in social welfare programs, such as law enforcement, community development, and health services. Block grants provide money for general areas of social welfare, rather than for specific programs.

Also question is, what are examples of block grants?

Examples of Block Grants

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.
Community Development Block Grant.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.
Social Services Block Grant.
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.
Indian Housing Block Grant.
Community Mental Health Services Block Grant.
What Are Block Grants?

What are the three types of block grants?

Block grants, categorical grants, and general revenue sharing are three types of federal government grants-in-aid programs.

37 Related Question Answers Found

What are 4 types of grants?

There are actually just four main types of grant funding. This publication provides descriptions and examples of competitive, formula, continuation, and pass-through grants to give you a basic understanding of funding structures as you conduct your search for possible sources of support.

What are some examples of grants?

Examples of grants by type

Community Development Block Grant.
Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Services Block Grant.
Local Law Enforcement Block Grant.
National Institutes of Health for bioscience research.
National Science Foundation for physical science research.

What is the most common type of categorical grant?

Sentence: The most common type of categorical grant is a project grant.

Why are categorical grants important?

Categorical grants are intended to help states improve the overall well-being of their residents, but also empower the federal government to exert more power over the states within a specific policy area.

What are 2 types of categorical grants?

There are two types of categorical grants:

Project grants: Money states apply for by submitting specific project proposals.
Formula grants: Money given to states according to a mathematical formula.

What is the largest categorical grant?

The largest single categorical grant is used to hold districts harmless from the growing costs of the state's massively underfunded school employee pension system. Just over $1 billion per year is spent for this purpose.

What is the difference between a block and a categorical grant?

Block grants and categorical grants are funding given to state and local governments by the federal government. The key difference is that block grants can be used for any purpose decided upon by the state or city whereas categorical grants must be used for a specific, designated purpose.

What is a categorical program?

Definition of a Categorical Program. Categorical Programs are established by state or federal legislation and are designed to supplement the existing core/basic instructional program. Most categorical programs are developed to serve a specific targeted group or audience.

How do CDBG grants work?

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.

What is the opposite of a block grant?

The opposite of block grants is categorical grants, which are chunks of money given by the federal government to state and local governments that have far more rules attached to them. Both block grants and categorical grants are the result of the United States' federal system.

How are block grants distributed?

Block grants are federal funds earmarked for specific state or local programs. A block grant is supported by federal funds but administered by state or local governments. Most block grants support housing, health, or other social services.

How do I get a block grant?

Nonprofits or other service providers may be eligible to receive block grant funds via pass-through funding from states or territories, so you should contact your state's grants office (often located within the governor's office).

How can you get free grant money?

Use the federal government's free, official website, Grants.gov rather than commercial sites that may charge a fee for grant information or application forms. Grants.gov centralizes information from more than 1,000 government grant programs to help states and organizations find and apply for grants.

How do I get grants?

Common sources for grant include the following:

Visit Grants.gov. This government site contains easily-searchable listings for a multitude of federal grants.
Look for scholarships with the Department of Labor.
Apply for individual fellowships and grants with specific agencies.
Look beyond government sources of funding.

What does CDBG fund?

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), one of the longest-running programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, funds local community development activities with the stated goal of providing affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development.

What is the mental health block grant?

The purpose of the grant is to help build and support the community-based public mental health system for adults with serious mental illness (SMI) and children with severe emotional disturbance (SED).

What is a block grant for healthcare?

Block grants are fixed pots of money that the federal government gives to states to provide benefits or services. Block-granting these programs would strip away the federal commitment to help vulnerable individuals and families who are eligible for these programs when they need them.