How SSBG Funding Works SSBG Grants are made directly to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to fund social services tailored to meet the needs of individuals and families residing within that jurisdiction. Grants are determined by a statutory formula based on each state's population. States are fully responsible for determining the use of their funds. In addition, up to 10 percent of block grant funds may be transferred to other block grant programs for support of health services, health promotion and disease prevention activities, and low- income home energy assistance. Funding for FY 1996 is expected to be at the same level.
Federal funds are available without a matching requirement.
Within the specific limitations in the law, each state has the flexibility to determine what services will be provided, who is eligible to receive services, and how funds are distributed among the various services within the state. There are six urban and three rural empowerment zones. States use the funds to enable distressed urban and rural communities to implement strategies that help residents own and manage enterprises within designated areas and connect them to jobs and opportunities throughout the region. Eligible communities must bring together the community, the private sector, and local government to promote economic, human, and physical development. Funding must be used for economic self-support to reduce dependency and remedy neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children and adults and to preserve, rehabilitate, or reunite families.