The partnership among Federal, State and local governments to revitalize
our Nation's communities has been a high priority of my Administration.
When I took office, I proposed a substantial expansion of the Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and the enactment of a new $400
million Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) program. Both of these
programs have provided essential community and economic development
assistance to our Nation's cities and counties.
Last year, Congress reauthorized both the CDBG and UDAG programs. The CDBG
program was reauthorized for three more years with annual funding increases
of $150 million, and the UDAG program was extended for three years at the
current funding level of $675 million annually. My 1982 budget requests
full funding for both of these programs. These actions should help our
Nation's cities and counties to continue the progress they have made in the
last three years.