The Texas Department of Agriculture created the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program as a method to foster viable communities by providing decent housing and suitable living environments, and expanding economic opportunities primarily for persons of low- to moderate-income.

To achieve these goals, the CDBG regulations outline the eligible activities and the National Objectives that each activity must meet. As a recipient of CDBG funds, the state is charged with ensuring that these HUD requirements are met. Specifically, the state is responsible for assuring the US Department of Housing and Urban Development that each project it funds meets one of three National Objectives: Benefit low-and moderate income persons; Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight; or meet a need having a particular urgency, which represents an immediate threat to the health and safety of residents. 
In line with the federal objectives, the state administers its CDBG programs according to the following goals:  Improve public facilities to meet basic human needs, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. Improve housing conditions, principally for persons of low- and moderate-income. Expand economic opportunities by creating or retaining jobs, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. Provide assistance and public facilities to eliminate conditions hazardous to the public health and of an emergency nature. 

Non-entitlement cities under 50,000 people are eligible applicants, and non-entitlement counties that have a non-metropolitan population under 200,000 and are not eligible for direct CDBG funding from HUD may apply for funding through any of the Texas CDBG programs.

Sheila Pankratz and Frank San Martin have had extensive training and are certified to act on behalf of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applicants. In addition, they are authorized to act as administrators for the grant program that is funded by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Entities applying for CDBG funds must now apply through a certified administrator in order for their application to be considered.