Planning Grant Program in the US

Deadline: 12-Aug-22

The Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) seeks applications from eligible local units of government that would like to be considered for Planning Grants funded through the state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

Goals

The goal of the program is to encourage communities to plan for long-term community development. Communities interested in planning for projects relating to such issues as infrastructure, downtown revitalization, and community facilities are encouraged to apply. To be considered, projects must demonstrate the following:

• They meet a goal of the Federal Act; 
• The particular planning project addresses established long-term community priorities; 
• The funds granted will have a significant impact on the overall project; 
• The community has demonstrated a strong commitment to the project and its sustainability; and 
• The project is ready to proceed upon grant award and will be completed within 12 months after grant award.

Funding Information

• The following maximum grant awards have been established by OCRA for Planning Grant recipients:
  • Water Utilities infrastructure studies are limited as follows:
    • $60,000 for a study on two utilities (water or wastewater, and stormwater), and 
    • $90,000 for a master utility study (water, wastewater, and storm water). 
    • Note: All utilities controlled by or of interest to by the community must be covered by the study.
  • Comprehensive plans are limited as follows:
    • Populations over 10,000 are limited to $60,000, and 
    • Populations under 10,000 are limited to $50,000 
    • Economic recovery plans are limited to $50,000. 
    • Broadband plans will be limited to $50,000 for single community; $70,000 for a region.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for Planning Grant assistance, projects must meet the following minimum requirements: 

• The lead applicant must be a non-entitlement city, county or incorporated town that possesses the legal capacity to carry out the proposed program.
• The proposed project must meet a national objective and be an eligible activity under Section 105 (a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. In general, the project must either:
  • benefit an area or clientele whose population is at least 51% low- and moderate-income 
  • aid in prevention or elimination of slums or blight
• Any CDBG Program Income collected from a previous CDBG grant must be obligated for a use that has been approved by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs before another CDBG grant will be approved. Any available Program Income may be used as part of the local match for a CDBG project. 
• The cost per beneficiary ratio for the proposed project cannot exceed $5,000 (grant funds only). 
• Local match must be provided by the applicant or third-party. Other state, federal or local grants can count toward the local match requirement. The local match must be in the minimum amount of 10% of the total project cost, not the grant amount being requested.

For more information, visit OCRA.

For more information, visit https://www.in.gov/ocra/cdbg/