U.S. Treasury

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund

The NMTC program awards competitive tax credits that project sponsors can use to attract private investment for revitalization of commercial properties and markets in qualified census tracts.

The CDFI Fund allocates tax credits to certified community development entities (CDEs), financial intermediaries that aggregate private capital from investors and place it in qualified businesses located in low-income communities. With an allocation of NMTC, CDEs can offer tax credits to investors in exchange for equity in the CDE. CDEs then use the capital from these equity investments to make loans and investments to businesses operating in qualified low-income census tracts, typically at more favorable rates and terms than conventional lenders can offer.

Recipients can use the funds generated with NMTC for construction of commercial and facilities space for creative economy businesses, arts organizations, or community cultural groups.

Community development entities (CDEs) certified by the CDFI Fund

El Corazón Cultural Center – Philadelphia, PA (financed through New Markets Support Corporation)

Cade Museum – Gainesville, FL (financed through Florida Community Loan Fund)

Funds available vary by CDE

Not applicable, but loans from tax credit revenue are not likely to cover the entire project cost

Substantial

Applicants for NMTC allocations must be community development entities certified by the CDFI Fund. Certification and application information

Community development practitioners can access NMTC for projects through local CDEs working in their targeted areas. CDEs listed by state

U.S. Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

The LIHTC program provides tax credits to attract private investment for construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing. The IRS awards tax credits to states, which then allocate credits to individual projects based on state-specific qualified allocation plans. Project sponsors sell their allocated credits to a syndicator that bundles credits into investment pools. Investors looking for tax relief purchase the credits and sponsors then use the proceeds as capital for their projects.

While this is not a grant program with an open application, the variety of affordable housing projects than can use the credits invites creativity. Arts organizations can team with community-based developers to integrate art or cultural themes into projects, or use credits to create affordable housing and co-located studio space for artists.

Forprofit and nonprofit housing developers

Brookland Artspace Lofts – Washington, DC

The Lace Mill – Kingston, NY

Variable by state

Not applicable, but tax credit revenue is not likely to cover the entire project cost

Substantial

Check your state’s housing finance agency for the state’s qualified allocation plan and other allocation information.

General program information

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

This program supports projects that (1) build institutional and staff capacity and (2) increase access to museum and archival collections at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and museums whose primary focus is African American art, life, history and culture.

These funds can be used for projects that will increase a museum’s capacity to share African American history and culture through exhibits, events and outreach efforts.

Applicants must be either a unit of state or local government or be a private nonprofit AND be one of the following:

• a museum whose purpose, as reflected in its mission, is African American life, art, history and/or culture. It must encompass: the period of slavery, the era of Reconstruction, the Harlem renaissance, the civil rights movement and other periods of the African American diaspora.
• a public or private nonprofit agency responsible for the operation of such a museum and applying on behalf of the museum
• a museum service organization or association whose primary purpose, as reflected in its mission, is to support museums whose primary purpose, as reflected in their mission, is African American life, art, history and/or culture
• a Historically Black College or University

Museum of the African Diaspora – San Francisco, CA

$250,000

Average award approximately $124,000

100%

No cost sharing for applications between $5,000 and $50,000

Moderate

IMLS Grant Programs

General program information

Institute of Museum and Library Services

These funds support existing library operations and maintain core library services for libraries serving Native American communities.

Basic grants help libraries in Native communities better meet the needs of their constituents, including serving as centers of cultural preservation and exchange.

Indian tribes are eligible to apply for funding under the Native American Library Services Basic Grants Program. Entities such as libraries, schools, tribal colleges or departments of education are not eligible applicants.

Many tribes have received these grants.

$10,000

Average award approximately $9,200

None

Moderate

IMLS Grant Programs

General program information

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

This program supports projects that help small and/or rural libraries and archives better serve their communities.

Applications may focus on the following topics:

• transforming school library practice
• community memory
• digital inclusion

This grant may be used for projects that focus on community engagement and enlist community members in preserving shared cultural heritage, such as collection of oral histories of the community.

Applicants must be either a unit of state or local government or be a private nonprofit AND be one of the following: a library, or parent organization such as a school district; a digital library.

Benzonia Public Library – Benzonia, MI

Forbes Library – Northampton, MA

$50,000

None

Moderate

IMLS Grant Programs

General program information

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

This program supports projects that strengthen the ability of an individual museum to serve its public.

Museums for America has three project categories:

• lifelong learning
• community anchors and catalysts
• collections stewardship and public access

IMLS specifically requests projects in which museums expand their roles in their communities to serve as anchors or catalysts, strengthen their capacity for civic engagement and further their efforts in community collaboration, all of which are central to creative placemaking.

Museums, public or private nonprofit agencies responsible for the operation of a museum

Children’s Museum of the East End – Bridgehampton, NY

Sealaska Heritage Institute – Juneau, AK

$250,000
Average award approximately $170,000

100%

Moderate

IMLS Grant Programs

General program information

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

This program helps small museums implement projects that address priorities they have identified in their strategic plans.

There are three project categories:

• lifelong learning
• community anchors and catalysts
• collections stewardship and public access

IMLS specifically requests projects in which museums expand their roles in their communities to serve as anchors or catalysts, strengthen their capacity for civic engagement, and further their efforts in community collaboration, all of which are central to creative placemaking.

Small museums, public or private nonprofit agencies responsible for the operation of a museum

Peale Center for Baltimore History and Architecture – Baltimore, MD

$50,000
Average award approximately $35,000

None

Moderate

IMLS Grant Programs

General program information

Department of Health and Human Services

Office of Community Services

The Community Economic Development program supports projects that provide business development opportunities, create employment for individuals with low incomes and help low-income individuals overcome barriers to self-sufficiency. Projects must support a service area with unemployment and poverty rates that are at or above the state or national levels.

Funds may be used for construction or non-construction projects.

This program could provide support for creative economy businesses to launch, relocate, renovate or expand in areas with high poverty and unemployment.

Eligible applicants must meet the following conditions:

• Applicant must be a private, nonprofit CDC with 501(c)(3) status
• Applicant must have articles of incorporation or bylaws demonstrating that the CDC has a principal purpose of planning, developing, or managing of low-income housing or community economic development activities
• The board of directors must have representation from each of the following: community residents, business leaders and civic leaders

Village Market Place food hub – Los Angeles, CA

Red Lake retail center – Detroit Lakes, MN

$800,000

None

Moderate

Office of Community Services Grants

General program information

U.S. Treasury

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund

The CDFI Fund awards Capital Magnet Fund grants to certified CDFIs and select other entities. The awardees use the grants as capital to finance (1) affordable housing for primarily extremely low-, very low- and low-income families and (2) economic development activities or community service facilities in order to stabilize or revitalize a low-income area or underserved rural area.

Capital Magnet Funds could provide capital for arts and culture related real estate or business projects, e.g., affordable artist housing, or community facilities.

Certified CDFIs or nonprofits operating with the principal purpose of developing or managing affordable housing solutions

Jubilee Housing – Washington, DC

Genesis LA Economic Growth Corporation – Los Angeles, CA

$2 million

Award must be leveraged by a minimum of 10:1

Substantial

These grants provide lending capital primarily for CDFIs, and so are not directly accessible to most practitioners. The best approach would be to identify the CDFI(s) working in your targeted community and see whether they have resources to offer. Some may have funding specifically to support arts and cultural facilities development. Bear in mind, however, that CDFIs are more likely to put this funding out as loans than as grants. Certified CDFIs

General program information

U.S. Treasury

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund

This program provides grant funding to certified community development financial institutions (CDFIs). CDFIs use the funding for lending capital, reserves, operations and development services to support a wide variety of community revitalization activities.

The CDFI Fund also offers supplemental funding through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) to support the development or growth of food markets in food desert communities.

CDFI funding could provide capital for the development of arts and culture related real estate or business projects, e.g., affordable artist housing, or community facilities.

Certified CDFIs

African Development Center – Minneapolis, MN

Coastal Enterprises, Inc. – Brunswick, ME

$2 million

1:1

Substantial

These grants provide lending capital for CDFIs, and so are not directly accessible to most practitioners. The best approach would be to identify the CDFI(s) working in your targeted community and see whether they have resources to offer. Some may have funding specifically to support arts and cultural facilities development. HFFI funding may support kitchen incubators or other food businesses in qualified neighborhoods (food deserts). Bear in mind, however, that CDFIs are more likely to put this funding out as loans than as grants. Certified CDFIs

More about the program

Small Business Administration

Office of Economic Opportunity

The PRIME program provides funding for the provision of technical assistance and training to microentrepreneurs and start-up businesses.

Funds may be useful to build the capacity of small arts or culture based businesses in corridors or regions targeted for creative placemaking efforts.

• A microenterprise development organization or program (or group or collaborative thereof), such as a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) or similar entity, that has a demonstrated record of delivering microenterprise services to disadvantaged entrepreneurs
• An intermediary (as defined in Section 8.1) which has experience in delivering technical assistance to disadvantaged entrepreneurs
• A microenterprise development organization or program (as defined in Section 8.1) that is accountable to a local community, working in conjunction with a state or local government or Indian tribe
• An Indian tribe acting on its own, if it can certify that no private organization or program referred to above exists within its jurisdiction

International Rescue Committee – San Diego, CA

Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation – Tampa, FL

$250,000

50% match required, but can be waived in special circumstances

Substantial

Grant information

Commerce Department

Economic Development Administration

This program helps communities and regions create and implement long-term economic recovery strategies following a federal declaration of disaster. Funds may be used for non-construction and construction projects that address economic challenges in disaster-impacted areas.

Funds can be used for disaster recovery, as well as for projects that improve the physical and economic disaster resilience of targeted places. Placemaking can play a role in planning efforts, creative elements could be woven into infrastructure improvements, or an impacted community may wish to pursue an economic recovery strategy rooted in arts and culture.

Local, state and tribal governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofits in federally declared disaster areas

Business Economic and Development Center at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez – Mayaguez, PR

Hinesville Development Authority business incubator – Hinesville, GA

No published maximum

EDA generally expects to fund up to 80% of the eligible costs of such assistance

Substantial

EDA Funding Opportunities

General program information

Updated annually

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Rural Development

This program supports projects that benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas. Funds can be used to support community economic development, business incubators, business planning, transportation improvements, property acquisition, and technical assistance and training for businesses.

These funds could be useful for developing and growing creative economy businesses, seeding commercial district development, assisting small creative entrepreneurs, and making physical improvements to make small town commercial districts into destinations.

Local governments, state agencies, federally recognized tribes, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, rural cooperatives

This grant program has geographic restrictions. Eligible areas

Camp Blount Historic Site Association – Fayetteville, TN

Southwest New Mexico Arts, Culture & Tourism – Silver City, NM

No maximum, but smaller projects receive priority

Not required

No published information

Interested parties must contact their state USDA Rural Development office to apply.

General program information

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Rural Development

These grant funds can be used to purchase, construct, or improve essential community facilities in rural communities with extreme unemployment and severe economic depression.

Practitioners can use these funds to construct or renovate spaces for community gathering and artistic and cultural presentation/expression in economically distressed rural communities. Eligible facilities include community centers, fairgrounds, museums, libraries, community gardens and greenhouses, and community kitchens. Funds can also be used for street improvements.

Local governments, community-based nonprofits, federally recognized tribes

Oyate Teca Project – Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, SD

Unity Barn Raisers Community Center – Unity, ME

No published maximum

No published guidance

No published information

Interested parties must contact their state USDA Rural Development office to apply.

General program information

Commerce Department

Economic Development Administration

The planning program supports eligible recipients to create regional economic development plans designed to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an economically distressed area or region. This program includes Partnership Planning Grants to help designated regional planning organizations coordinate planning and implementation of comprehensive economic development strategies that will help attract or retain high-quality jobs by leveraging the region’s unique assets.

Funds could support planning efforts for regional creative or cultural strategies. This could present an opportunity to incorporate artists into a planning process.

• District organization of a designated economic development district
• Indian tribe or a consortium of Indian tribes
• State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a state, including a special-purpose unit of a state or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions
• Institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education
• Public or private nonprofits or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a state

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy – Brattleboro, VT

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy – American Samoa

Planning investments average approximately $70,000, and generally range from $40,000 to $200,000.

Variable based on economic conditions in target area

Substantial

EDA Funding Opportunities

More about the program

Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Office of Public and Indian Housing

This program provides grants to small communities to support the renovation of historic or traditional central business districts or Main Street areas. The program entails replacing unused, obsolete, commercial space in Main Street buildings with affordable housing units.

The grant funds can be used to build new affordable housing or to reconfigure obsolete or surplus commercial space (or extremely substandard, vacant housing) into affordable housing units. General infrastructure and commercial development are not allowable uses.

These funds could be used to create affordable artist housing for creatives living and working on a targeted corridor.

County, city, township, or special district governments in communities with population of 50,000 or less

Cotton Mill Lofts – Hawkinsville, GA

Vacant church project – Bartlesville, OK

$500,000

5%

Substantial

HUD Funding Opportunities

Program-specific information

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Rural Housing Service

Under the RCDI program, the Rural Housing Service awards grants to qualified intermediary organizations. Grantees subgrant the funds to provide training and technical assistance to help nonprofit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities and community and economic development projects in rural areas.

Training recipients to conduct:

• home ownership education
• minority business entrepreneur education

Providing technical assistance to recipients on:

• strategic plan development
• accessing alternative funding sources
• board training
• developing successful child care facilities
• creating training tools, such as videos, workbooks and reference guides
• effective fundraising techniques

A qualified intermediary could use these funds to build capacity and resiliency of local entrepreneurs, contributing to system building for a creative economy.

Local governments, tribes, nonprofits, qualified private (for-profit) organizations

Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development used a $200,000 RCDI grant to help the Growth Alliance launch a regional community development initiative. The project focused on capitalizing on unique assets such as historic downtowns, natural beauty, outdoor recreation, arts and culture, and history.

$250,000

100%

Substantial

Application and general program information

Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Land and Emergency Management

This program provides three types of grants for addressing brownfield properties.

Assessment Grants provide funding for entities to develop inventories of brownfield sites; prioritize sites for intervention; conduct community engagement, planning and site assessments; and develop site-specific cleanup plans and reuse plans for brownfield sites. Assessment Grant funds may not be used for cleanup activities.

Cleanup Grants provide funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites.

Multipurpose (MP) Grants can support a range of eligible assessment and cleanup activities within a defined target area, such as a neighborhood, a number of neighboring towns, a district, a corridor, a shared planning area, or a census tract.

Note: these awards will be made as cooperative agreements, rather than traditional grants. Cooperative agreements require “substantial involvement” of the relevant federal agency.

Practitioners can use these grants to assess and/or clean up a site where arts projects or programs will be located, such as former industrial sites. The planning and community engagement component of the Assessment Grants can also contribute to placemaking.

Local, state or tribal governments, units of local government and quasi-government agencies, redevelopment agencies, nonprofits, limited liability corporations (LLCs) in which all managing members are 501(c)(3) nonprofits or LLCs whose sole members are 501(c)(3) nonprofits and limited liability partnerships in which all general partners are 501(c)(3) nonprofits or LLCs whose sole members are 501(c)(3) nonprofits

Waterfall Arts Building – Belfast, ME

The Steel Yard – Providence, RI

$300,000 for Assessment Grants
$500,000 for Cleanup Grants
$800,000 for Multipurpose Grants

Not required for Assessment Grants
20% cost share for Cleanup Grants
$40,000 for Multipurpose Grants

Substantial

More information and links to grant solicitations

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Rural Development

This program supports purchase, construction, and improvement of essential community facilities in rural areas. Funds can also be used for equipment purchase and payment of related project expenses.

USDA may award funds in the form of low-interest loans, grants, or a combination of the two.

Practitioners can use these funds to construct or renovate spaces for community gathering and artistic and cultural presentation/expression in rural communities. Eligible facilities include community centers, fairgrounds, museums, libraries, community gardens and greenhouses, and community kitchens. Funds can also be used for street improvements.

Local governments, community-based nonprofits, federally recognized tribes

Loogootee Public Library – Loogootee, IN

Farmer’s Market and Community Center – Palestine, IL

No published maximum

Grants funds are limited to a maximum of 75% of costs and in many cases will be lower than 75%

No published information

Interested parties must contact their state USDA Rural Development office to apply.

General program information

Commerce Department

Economic Development Administration

The Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program provides support for technical, planning, and public works and infrastructure efforts in regions that are experiencing “adverse economic changes.”

EAA provides Strategy Grants to develop or update a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) and Implementation Grants to support the execution of activities identified in a CEDS. Eligible activities include infrastructure improvements including site acquisition, site preparation, construction, rehabilitation and equipping of facilities, market and environmental studies, and planning or construction grants.

The Public Works program supports distressed communities to build, design or engineer critical infrastructure and facilities that will foster regional development strategies and advance economic development goals. Eligible uses of funds include design and construction of projects such as water and sewer system improvements, industrial parks, workforce training facilities, business incubators and accelerators, brownfield redevelopment, and technology based facilities.

EDA may award funds as a grant or as a cooperative agreement. The latter stipulates “substantial involvement” by the federal agency.

These funding opportunities may be helpful to set the stage and build infrastructure for broader local or regional economic development strategies that include arts and culture. Artists might be involved in planning processes.

• District organization
• Indian tribe or a consortium of Indian tribes
• State, county, city or other political subdivision of a state, including a special purpose unit of a state or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions
• Institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education
• Public or private nonprofit or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a state

Public Works: Amarillo College makerspace – Amarillo, TX

Economic Adjustment Assistance: Friends of Chennault Aviation & Military Museum – Monroe/Quachita County, LA

$1 million for EAA

$3 million for Public Works

Generally 50%, but may vary depending on economic conditions in target area

Substantial

EDA Funding Opportunities

More information about EDA programs

National Endowment for the Arts

This program supports primarily small and midsized organizations for projects that bring the arts to underserved populations that lack access to the arts due to geography, ethnicity, economics or disability.

Grants are available to support professional arts programming and for projects that emphasize the potential of the arts in community development.

NOTE: This grant program was suspended in 2020 due to staff workload implementing the CARES Act.

This program is smaller in scale than Our Town, but also targeted to projects that explore the marriage of arts, culture and community development.

Local, state and tribal governments; institutions of higher education; nonprofits

Bridging the Divide visual arts exhibition – New York, NY

St. Croix Valley cultural tourism – Stillwater, MN

Awards are for a fixed amount: $10,000

At least 1:1

No published information

Application information

Department of the Interior

National Park Service

Artist in Residence programs provide artists with opportunities to create art in naturally and culturally significant settings. In many cases, they allow park visitors to observe or experience the art in the setting that inspired it.

Programs vary by park, but typically last a few weeks and include artist lodging. Artists often participate in park programs and share their art with the public.

This program enables practitioners to introduce creative elements into national park settings and park visitor interactions. In parks that are integrated with their surrounding communities, or want to be, a residency could help encourage an arts-inspired connection between residents and the park.

Artists

Denali Encourages Young Alaska Artists – Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Artist-In-Residence 2020 – Canaveral National Seashore, Florida

Variable by park

Variable by park. Artists may need to provide or supplement their own living expenses.

Variable by park

Each park has its own application process and timeline.

General program information

National Endowment for the Humanities

Challenge Grants program awards help institutions build capacity to preserve and create access to humanities materials. The program funds two distinct types of projects, each with its own notice of funding opportunity:

• Capital Projects supports the design, purchase, construction, restoration or renovation of facilities for humanities activities. This includes the purchase and installation of related moveable and permanently affixed equipment for exhibiting, maintaining, monitoring and protecting collections (whether on exhibit or in storage), and for critical building systems, such as electrical; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; security; life safety; lighting; utilities; telecommunications; and energy management.
• Digital Infrastructure supports the maintenance, modernization, and sustainability of existing digital scholarly projects and platforms.

These funds could be used to strengthen the infrastructure or build the capacity of an arts or cultural organization that serves as an anchor in creative placemaking in its community, such as a museum or library.

Local, state and tribal governments, state and local government agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofits

Cabell County Public Library branch building – Huntington, WV

Free Library of Philadelphia Community Humanities Endowment – Philadelphia, PA

$750,000

Requests for grants $500,000 or less must be matched at $3 in nonfederal gifts for every $1 in federal funds (3:1).

Requests for grants exceeding $500,000 and up to $750,000 must be matched at $4 in nonfederal gifts for every $1 in federal funds (4:1).

Public or 501(c)(3) nonprofit community colleges and postsecondary two-year institutions of higher education, historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions of higher education, and tribal colleges and universities may request a 1:1 match ratio.

Moderate

Application information

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

The Public Humanities Projects program supports the development of in-person programming that brings the ideas and insights of humanities disciplines such as history, literature, ethics and art history to life for general audiences.

The program supports projects in three categories:

• exhibitions (permanent, temporary or traveling)
• interpretive programs at historic places
• humanities discussions related to “A More Perfect Union”: NEH Special Initiative Advancing Civic Education and Commemorating the Nation’s 250th Anniversary.

These funds could support the development of exhibitions, interpretive history presentations, tours or other programs that reflect shared community history or culture or engage community members in discussions about the same, or attract visitors to the community for the purpose of cultural tourism.

501(c)(3) nonprofits, state and local governmental agencies, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, accredited public and 501(c)(3) institutions of higher education

Telfair Museum of Art exhibit Owens-Thomas House: Interpreting the Dynamics of Urban Slavery in the South – Savannah, GA

New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center exhibit More Than a Job: Work and Community in New Bedford’s Fishing Industry – New Bedford, MA

Planning: up to $75,000

Implementation: $50,000 to $400,000

Chairman’s Special Awards: up to $1 million

None

Moderate

Application information

National Endowment for the Humanities

The purpose of Humanities Initiatives programs is to strengthen the teaching and study of the humanities in higher education by developing new or enhanced humanities programs, resources or courses.

There are five Humanities Initiatives programs:

• Humanities Initiatives at Colleges and Universities
• Humanities Initiatives at Hispanic-Serving Institutions
• Humanities Initiatives at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
• Humanities Initiatives at Tribal Colleges and Universities
• Humanities Initiatives at Community Colleges

Humanities Initiatives projects must be organized around a core topic or set of themes drawn from the humanities areas of study such as history, philosophy, religion, literature, and composition and writing skills.

Projects using these funds could further relationship building between communities and anchor institutions such as museums, universities and libraries, either around a study of shared local heritage and culture or around interactions of specific groups, such local college/community learning partnerships.

501(c)(3) nonprofits, state and local governmental agencies, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, accredited public and 501(c)(3) institutions of higher education

“Strength from Adversity”: A Reading, Discussion, and Mentorship Program for GED students – Albany State University, GA

Situating Ourselves in the Salish Sea: Using Experiential Learning and Storytelling to Inspire Critical Thinking about Place – Whatcom Community College, WA

$150,000

None

Moderate

General program information

For reference: 2020 Humanities Initiatives funding announcement

Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Office of Community Planning and Development

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) provides flexible allocations of funding to local governments for a wide array of projects and programs, including affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, provision of public services and economic development opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.

HUD awards 70% of its overall CDBG allocation by formula to larger cities and urban counties. The remaining 30% is distributed to states, which allocate funding on a competitive basis to smaller cities and rural areas. Practitioners cannot apply directly for CDBG allocations, but local governments can subgrant these funds to nonprofits and for-profit businesses for eligible activities.

Local governments may award grants with this funding to subrecipients for a variety of activities including construction of housing, community facilities and infrastructure; economic development and job creation activities; and provision of public services – all of which may incorporate creative elements or contribute to a larger creative placemaking effort.

Only local units of government can be recipients of CDBG allocations. However, many recipients depend on subrecipients to carry out eligible activities outlined in their CDBG plans.

Subrecipients (sometimes referred to as “subgrantees”) are entities that are provided CDBG funds by a grantee for their use in carrying out agreed-upon, eligible activities. There are three basic kinds of subrecipients:

• governmental agencies
• nonprofits
• private for profits

Community based Development Organizations (CBDOs) can also be designated subrecipients by the grantee.

Abilene, TX, for neighborhood revitalization

Jamestown, NY, for business façade improvement, accessibility rebates, and technical assistance

Variable

N/A

Substantial

Local subgranting plans and procedures can vary, but start by reviewing the priorities in your city or county’s annual action plan for CDBG. Municipal departments of housing and community development typically oversee CDBG for a jurisdiction and produce and manage the annual action plans.

General program information

Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Office of Community Planning and Development

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) provides flexible allocations of funding to local governments for a wide array of projects and programs in Native American and Alaska Native communities, including affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, provision of public services and economic development opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.

HUD awards this funding to tribal and Alaska Native governments. Practitioners cannot apply directly for CDBG allocations, but tribal governments can subgrant these funds to nonprofits and for-profit businesses for eligible activities.

Tribal governments may award grants with this funding to subrecipients for a variety of activities including construction of housing, community facilities and infrastructure; economic development and job creation activities; provision of public services; and projects serving tribal youth – all of which may incorporate creative or cultural elements or contribute to a larger creative placemaking effort.

Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).

Eligible subrecipients:

• nonprofits including community based development organizations
• certified community housing development organizations
• SBA-approved Section 501 state development companies, Section 502 local development companies or SBA certified Section 503 companies
• tribal based nonprofits

Multipurpose community center – Galena Village, Alaska

Tribal community center – Dry Creek Rancheria, California

$7 million (most awards are substantially smaller)

None

Substantial

Tribal subgranting plans and procedures can vary, but start by reviewing the priorities in a tribe’s annual action plan for ICDBG. Tribal governments produce and manage the annual action plans.

General program information

Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Office of Public and Indian Housing

The Choice Neighborhoods program offers both Planning and Implementation Grants for comprehensive, large-scale strategies to transform struggling neighborhoods where distressed public and/or HUD-assisted housing is located. These grants require a collaborative effort from local leaders, residents and multisector stakeholders such nonprofits, businesses, and local agencies and institutions. These partners develop and implement comprehensive plans to revitalize distressed HUD housing and address neighborhood challenges at the same time.

Choice Neighborhoods requires intensive partnership and public engagement inherent in placemaking efforts. While unlikely to be direct Choice Neighborhoods grantees, creative placemaking practitioners can seek ways to participate in planning and implementation to incorporate arts and cultural elements into the resulting transformation plan.

Public housing authorities, local governments, tribal entities, and nonprofits may apply for Planning and Implementation Grants.

Communities that have completed their transformation plans and are ready to implement may apply for Implementation Grants.

St. Paul’s neighborhood plan implementation – Norfolk, VA

Mill Creek neighborhood planning – Huntsville, AL

$1.3 million for Planning and Action Grants
Implementation Grants vary, but can be significantly higher due to the cost of revitalizing the publicly funded housing properties at the heart of the plans ($10 million+).

5%

Substantial

Search the list of Choice Neighborhoods Grantees to find out if there is a Choice neighborhoods effort in your community:

Planning grantees

Implementation grantees

General program information

Department of Transportation

Federal Transit Administration

BUILD Transportation grants supporting planning and capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure including roads, bridges, transit rail and sidewalks. The FTA awards these funds to projects that will have a significant local or regional impact and considers factors such as safety, quality of life, economic competitiveness and partnership in making awards.

DOT awards these funds to local and state government entities. Individual organizations may be able to guide their local governments’ use of funds, but cannot access them directly.

Creative placemaking practitioners could request that their local governments use this grant to fund streetscape improvements along corridors designated for placemaking activity.

States, local and tribal governments, including U.S. territories, transit agencies, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, and other political subdivisions of state or local governments

Riverfront Infrastructure Improvement Project – Paducah, KY 

Hope Street pedestrian and streetscape improvements – Bristol, RI

$25 million

Most awards range from $10 to $20 million

Federal funding share will not exceed 80% for projects in urban areas. May be higher in rural areas, at DOT’s discretion.

Substantial

General program information

Department of Transportation

Federal Transit Administration

The Surface Transportation Block Grant program provides flexible funding that may be used by states and localities for projects to preserve and improve the conditions and performance on any federal-aid highway, bridge and tunnel projects on any public road, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and transit capital projects, including intercity bus terminals.

DOT awards these funds to local and state government entities. Individual organizations may be able to guide their local governments’ use of funds, but cannot access them directly.

Creative placemaking practitioners could request that their local governments use this grant to fund streetscape improvements or construction/renovation of transit hubs located along corridors designated for creative placemaking activity.

State, local, and tribal governments, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations

Bike, Pedestrian and Roadway Improvements – Wilmington, NC

Sidewalk Master Plan Improvements – Scotts Valley, CA

$25 million

Federal share of project cost may not exceed 90% for interstate projects; 80% for all other projects.

Substantial

Application information

National Endowment for the Arts

Our Town intentionally supports creative placemaking. These grants fund projects that integrate arts, culture and design into more traditional community development efforts to advance local economic, physical and/or social development. Our Town applications must be submitted by two organizations in partnership, a nonprofit and a local government entity, with one of the partners being a cultural organization.

This is one of the only federal grant programs specifically designed to support creative placemaking. Our Town requires the intentional partnerships, community engagement and planning necessary to execute creative placemaking successfully.

All applications require partnerships that involve at least two primary partners as defined by these guidelines: a nonprofit and a local governmental entity. One of the two primary partners must be a cultural (arts or design) organization. Additional partners are encouraged.

One of the two primary partners must act as the official applicant (lead applicant). This lead applicant must meet the eligibility requirements, submit the application and assume full responsibility for the grant.

Eligible lead applicants are: 501(c)(3) nonprofits with a documented completed three-year history of programming, or local governments including city, county, town, village and tribal governments (local arts agencies or other departments within local government may apply on behalf of their local government).

State governments, state government agencies, regional planning organizations or quasigovernment organizations and institutions of higher education are not eligible to apply.

Master plan – Ajo, AZ

Grant Street Global Voices – Buffalo, NY

Over.Under.Pass – Greensboro, NC

$150,000

Award range: $25,000 to $150,000

At least 1:1

Moderate

Application information

National Endowment for the Arts

This program supports projects that research the value and impact of the arts and how the arts intersect with other domains of American life. Program priorities include research examining individual outcomes from participation in the arts and the community level impacts of arts and cultural assets.

These grants could be used to evaluate effectiveness of an arts program, approach or strategy that is part of a creative placemaking effort.

State, local, and tribal governments; institutions of higher education; nonprofits

Arts-based social mobility: Exploring cultural capital – Charlotte, NC

$100,000

At least 1:1

Substantial

Application information

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

This grant program helps libraries sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge by building their capacity to do exhibitions, educational services and programming, professional development, and collections stewardship.

Funds may be used for culture-building or culture-keeping activities such as language preservation or partnerships with schools to support a community-wide focus on shared cultural heritage.

Indian tribes or organizations that primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians

Hula Preservation Society – Kaneohe, HI

Wiyot Tribe – Loleta, CA

$100,000
Average grant approximately $87,000

None

Moderate

IMLS Grant Programs

General program information

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

Native Hawaiian Library Services  grants help libraries serving Native Hawai’ian communities to carry out activities that enhance existing library services or implement new library services. Project categories include:

• preservation and revitalization
• educational programming
• digital services

The preservation and revitalization category of this grant is particularly relevant to creative placemaking. Funds can be used for language preservation programs and strategic partnerships focused on cultural preservation.

Nonprofit organizations that primarily serve and represent Native Hawai’ians

Papahana Kuaola – Kane’ohe, HI

Keiki O Ka ‘Aina Preschool – Multiple locations statewide in Hawai’i

$150,000
Average award is close to $150,000

None

Moderate

IMLS Grant Programs

General program information

Department of the Interior

National Park Service

This program funds subgrants to enable the rehabilitation of historic properties and to foster economic development in rural communities.

Eligible recipients apply for funding allocations, which they can subgrant to support historic preservation projects in their communities.

Subgranted funds can be used for a variety of placemaking activities, including restoration of historic theaters, revitalization of Main Streets and preservation of historic sites, all of which may anchor creative placemaking strategies.

Local, state and tribal governments, nonprofits

Oregon Historic Theaters Subgrant Program – Oregon Statewide

Chepachet Village Historic District Subgrant Program – Town of Gloucester, RI

$750,000

None

Moderate

Under this program, eligible grantees (nonprofits, tribal historic preservation offices, state historic preservation offices or certified local governments) receive funds to be subgranted to organizations within their jurisdictions to undertake project work. Find out if your community has a grant allocation.

General program information

Department of the Interior

National Park Service

This program, also known as Civil Rights Grants, supports projects that document, interpret and preserve sites and stories related to the African American struggle for civil rights in the 20th century.

Eligible uses of funds include survey, planning and documentation of historic sites/events, and creation of interpretive and educational materials around significant sites (including oral histories). Eligible project categories are:

• survey and planning
• research and documentation
• interpretation and education

These funds could be used for planning or display of historic or culturally significant sites, as part of a creative placemaking strategy. Funds can also support programs that engage community members, such as collection of oral histories.

Local, state and tribal governments, educational institutions, nonprofits

Freedom Fighters of the West End: Research and Interpretation of Charlotte’s Historic West End Civil Rights Activists – A project of Johnson C. Smith University – Charlotte, NC

African American Civil Rights Trail – Cleveland, OH

$50,000

Estimated range: $15,000 to $50,000

Not required

Moderate

Application information

Program information

Department of the Interior

National Park Service

This program funds the physical preservation of historic sites associated with the African American struggle for civil rights in the 20th century. Sites may include historic districts, buildings, sites, structures and objects.

Eligible uses of funds include pre-preservation studies, architectural plans and specifications, historic structure reports, and the repair and rehabilitation of historic properties. Properties must be listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or designated a national historic landmark either individually or as contributing to a district, whose significance is associated with African American civil rights in the 20th century.

These funds could support rehabilitation or repair of historic or culturally significant sites in a neighborhood utilizing creative placemaking strategies.

Local, state and tribal governments, educational institutions, nonprofits

Third Street Bethel AME Church Rehabilitation – Richmond, VA

Brown Chapel AME Preservation – Selma, AL

$500,000

Estimated range: $75,000 to $500,000

Not required

Moderate

Program information

More program information

Department of the Interior

National Park Service

This grant program supports the survey, inventory and designation of historic properties that are associated with communities currently underrepresented in the National Register of Historic Places and among national historic landmarks.

All funded projects must result in:

• the submission of a new nomination to the National Register of Historic Places or National Historic Landmark program, or
• an amendment to an existing national register or national historic landmark nomination to include underrepresented communities.

This award could be used to nominate a community historic site for the National Register as part of a broader culture-based revitalization or economic development strategy.

State historic preservation offices, tribal historic preservation offices, federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native groups, Native Hawai’ian organizations as defined by 54 U.S.C. 300300 et seq., and certified local governments

New York City Casitas Survey and Nomination Project – New York, NY

LGBTQ History sites survey – Washington, DC

$50,000

Estimated award range: $15,000 to $50,000

Not required

Moderate

Application information

Department of the Interior

National Park Service

Save America’s Treasures focuses on protecting “America’s threatened cultural treasures.” These treasures encompass everything from historic structures to works of art, documents and collections of artifacts that represent significant pieces of American culture or history.

Eligible uses of funds include preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and nationally significant historic structures and sites.

These funds could be useful for preservation of significant historic sites that may serve as anchors to culturally based placemaking.

• Federal agencies funded by the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
• Other federal agencies collaborating with a nonprofit partner to preserve the historic properties or collections owned by the federal agency may submit applications through the nonprofit partner
• Nonprofits
• Units of state or local government
• Federally recognized Indian tribes

Havre Historic Post Office and Courthouse – Gilford, MT

Stanford White Casino Theatre (Newport, RI)

$1 million

Award range for Collections: $25,000 to $500,000

Award range for Preservation: $125,000 to $500,000

1:1

Moderate

Application information

National Endowment for the Arts

Grants for Arts Projects is the National Endowment for the Arts’s principal grants program and supports a wide variety of artistic and cultural projects. Through this program, the Arts Endowment explicitly supports public engagement with and access to art, and “the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life.”

The Endowment expresses a preference for projects that celebrate America’s cultural heritage, projects sponsored by ethnic and cultural groups such as Native American tribes and historically black colleges and universities, and projects that foster dialogue and mutual respect.

These grants support projects in a wide range of disciplines, including visual arts, performing arts, multidisciplinary projects and those that support the development of artist communities. Awards could be used to integrate a creative component into a broader community project.

501(c)(3) nonprofits, units of state or local government, or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. Applicants must have completed a three-year history of arts programming prior to the application deadline.

Little Tokyo Service Center Artist Residency – Los Angeles, CA

DownCity Design – Providence, RI

$100,000

Award range: $10,000 to $100,000

At least 1:1

Moderate

Application information

Department of Health and Human Services

Administration on Children, Youth & Families

The Street Outreach Program funds street-based services to reach and assist runaway, homeless and street youth in areas where such youth congregate. The program funds workers to assist runaway, homeless and street youth in making healthy choices. It provides them access to shelter and basic needs. It prepares them to live independently.

This program could fund place-based interventions in areas with high concentrations of homeless youth, as well as arts oriented or culturally specific interventions to reach this population.

Public (state and local) and private nonprofits entities (including faith based and community organizations) and coordinated networks of such entities, are eligible to apply unless they are part of the juvenile justice system.

Los Angeles LGBT Center – Los Angeles, CA

Latin American Youth Center – Washington, DC

$150,000

Average award approximately $100,000

At least 10% of project costs

Substantial

Application information

General program information

Department of Health and Human Services

Office of Refugee Resettlement

This program supports ethnic community based organizations to provide refugee populations with critical services to help them become integrated members of American society. Services include providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services and promoting community building and civic participation among refugee individuals and families.

The program includes specific priorities for projects that provide services to encourage social and economic integration for refugee women and youth support focused on college preparation and after-school activities.

These funds could be used for culturally centered projects or programs that foster community engagement and participation among members of refugee communities, provide shared cultural experiences in targeted communities, and support creative expression of shared identity among community youth.

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
• Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
• Nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education)
• Private institutions of higher education

Burmese American Community Institute – Indianapolis, IN

Association of Africans Living in Vermont – Burlington, VT

$200,000

None

Moderate

Application information

General information about the Office of Refugee Resettlement

Department of the Interior

Bureau of Indian Affairs

These grant funds support tribes to retain consultants to perform feasibility studies of economic development opportunities located in federally designated Opportunity Zones. The studies will enable tribes to make informed decisions regarding their economic futures, examining the viability of potential economic development projects or businesses and how to attract investment from an Opportunity Fund.

These funds could be useful for establishing cultural or arts based tourism plans or other creative economic development strategies.

Tribal governments and tribal entities with projects that will be located within designated Opportunity Zones.

Tourism feasibility study – Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, AK

Dam building conversion – Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, Hogansburg, NY

$75,000

Not required

Substantial

General program information

Applications are posted on grants.gov.

Department of the Interior

Bureau of Indian Affairs

This funding supports tribes and tribal organizations to build adaptation and resilience, with a particular focus on the negative impacts of environmental changes. Grants support resilience training, adaptation planning, vulnerability assessments, supplemental monitoring, capacity building and youth engagement. TRP has seven distinct award categories:

1. trainings and workshops (maximum: $150,000)
2. adaptation planning (maximum: $150,000)
3. travel support for adaptation planning (maximum: $15,000)
4. ocean and coastal management planning (maximum: $150,000)
5. travel support – ocean & coastal (maximum: $15,000)
6. capacity building for scoping efforts to support future Category 2 proposal development (maximum: $65,000)
7. planning for relocation, managed retreat, or protect-in-place activities for coastal and riverine communities

These funds could be used to conduct culturally centered planning for tribal communities facing the need to relocate or reshape themselves or increase resiliency due to climate change.

Federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations and consortia of tribes

Climate change adaptation workshops – Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, CO

Managed retreat from Kuskokwin River – Akiak Native Community, AK

Variable depending on award category

Maximum award across all categories: $150,000

Not required, but will boost application competitiveness

Variable depending on award category

Program and application information

Department of Health and Human Services

Indian Health Service

To improve the physical and mental health status of people with behavioral health issues by developing an integrative, coordinated system of care. Implementation of an integrative approach in the delivery of behavioral health services, including trauma-informed care, nutrition, exercise, and social, spiritual, cultural and primary care services.

Culturally centered behavioral health strategies as a component of broader community placemaking efforts focused on social determinants of health

• A federally recognized Indian tribe as defined by 25 U.S.C. 1603(14)
• A tribal organization as defined by 25 U.S.C. 1603(26)
• An urban Indian organization as defined by 25 U.S.C. 1603(29)
• A nonprofit corporate body situated in an urban center, governed by an urban Indian controlled board of directors, and providing for the maximum participation of all interested Indian groups and individuals

Indian Health Board – Minneapolis, MN

Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center – Pendleton, OR

$400,000

None

Moderate

Application information

Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Native Americans

The SEDS program supports projects that promote social and economic self-sufficiency for American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawai’ians, and Native American Pacific Islanders from American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. SEDS projects must focus on one or more of the following concepts: (1) Social Development programs and services that safeguard the health, well-being and culture of Native peoples, (2) Economic Development that promotes job creation, economic well-being and self-sufficiency in Native communities, (3) Governance that enhances the administrative infrastructure and capacity of Native tribes, Native organizations, and Native governments.

These funds can support culture based economic development, arts programs, health initiatives, or community engagement in Native communities.

• Federally recognized Indian tribes, as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
• Incorporated non-federally recognized tribes
• Incorporated state-recognized Indian tribes
• Consortia of Indian tribes
• Incorporated nonprofit multipurpose community based Indian organizations
• Urban Indian centers
• Alaska Native villages as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and/or nonprofit village consortia
• Nonprofit native organizations in Alaska with village-specific projects
• Incorporated nonprofit Alaska Native multipurpose, community based organizations
• Nonprofit Alaska Native regional corporations/associations with village-specific projects
• Nonprofit Alaska Native community entities or tribal governing bodies (Indian Reorganization Act or Traditional Councils) as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
• Public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native Hawai’ians
• National or regional incorporated nonprofit Native American organizations with Native American community-specific objectives
• Public and nonprofit private agencies serving native peoples from Guam, American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
• Tribal colleges and universities, and colleges and universities located in Hawai’i, Guam, American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that serve Native American Pacific Islanders

Trickster Art Gallery – Schaumburg, IL

Youth aquaponics facility – Hannahville Indian Community, MI

$400,000

Average award approximately $280,000

At least 20% of the total approved cost of the project

Periodic performance and financial reports

Application information

General program information

Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Native Americans

The SEDS-AK program supports projects that promote social and economic self-sufficiency for Alaska Natives. SEDS-AK projects must focus on one or more of the following concepts:

• social development programs and services that safeguard the health, well-being and culture of Alaska Native peoples
• economic development that promotes job creation, economic well-being and self-sufficiency in Alaska Native communities
• governance that enhances the administrative infrastructure and capacity of Alaska Native tribes, Alaska Native organizations and Alaska Native village governments

These funds can support culture based economic development, arts programs, health initiatives or community engagement in Alaska Native communities.

• Federally recognized Indian tribes in Alaska, as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
• Alaska Native villages as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and/or nonprofit village consortia
• Nonprofit native organizations in Alaska with village-specific projects
• Incorporated nonprofit Alaska Native multipurpose, community based organizations
• Nonprofit Alaska Native regional corporations/associations with village-specific projects
• Nonprofit Alaska Native community entities or tribal governing bodies (Indian Reorganization Act or Traditional Councils) as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs

Chickaloon Native Village – Chickaloon, Alaska

Alaska Native Justice Center

$200,000

At least 20% of the total approved cost of the project

Moderate

Application information

General program information

Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Native Americans

Supports projects to ensure the survival and vitality of Native American languages. Projects may include language restoration programs and community language projects.

Grants can support placemaking programs that celebrate and reinforce shared culture in a community.

• Federally recognized Indian tribes, as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
• Incorporated non-federally recognized tribes
• Incorporated state-recognized Indian tribes
• Consortia of Indian tribes
• Incorporated, nonprofit, multipurpose, community based Indian organizations
• Urban Indian Centers
• Alaska Native villages as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and/or nonprofit village consortia
• Nonprofit native organizations in Alaska with village-specific projects
• Incorporated nonprofit Alaska Native multipurpose, community based organizations
• Nonprofit Alaska Native regional corporations/associations with village-specific projects
• Nonprofit Alaska Native community entities or tribal governing bodies (Indian Reorganization Act or Traditional Councils) as recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
• Public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native Hawai’ians
• National or regional incorporated, nonprofit, Native American organizations with Native American, community-specific objectives
• Public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native peoples from Guam, American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that serve Native American Pacific Islanders
• Tribal colleges and universities, and colleges and universities located in Hawai’i, Guam, American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that serve Native American Pacific Islanders

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian Language Department – Harbor Springs, MI

Papakolea Community Development Corporation – Honolulu, HI

$300,000

Average award is close to the max

At least 20% of the total approved cost of the project

Moderate

Application information and links

General program information

U.S. Treasury

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund

This program provides grant funding to certified Native American community development financial institutions. CDFIs use the funding for lending capital, reserves, operations and development services to support a wide variety of community revitalization activities.

CDFI funding could provide capital for the development of arts and culture related real estate or business projects, e.g., affordable artist housing, community cultural facilities.

Certified CDFIs serving Native communities

Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement – Kapolei, HI

Seneca Nation of Indians Economic Development Company – Salamanca, NY

$1 million

Waived in the latest competition

Substantial

These grants provide lending capital primarily for CDFIs, and so are not directly accessible to most practitioners. The best approach would be to identify the CDFI(s) working in your targeted community and see whether they have resources to offer. Some may have funding specifically to support arts and cultural facilities development. Bear in mind, however, that CDFIs are more likely to put this funding out as loans than as grants. Certified Native CDFIs

General Program information

Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC)

This program funds infrastructure and economic development projects that generate employment and reduce poverty and outmigration in the region along the Canadian border with New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The program includes a priority to support business development that leverages the region’s natural, cultural and economic assets and positions the Northern Border region “as an attractive and supportive place for creative and entrepreneurial people.”

These funds could be used for economic or workforce development projects that contribute to building a local arts and culture based economy.

Local and tribal governments and agencies and nonprofits in specified counties, regional planning commissions, state governments of New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine

Birds Eye processing plant demolition and reuse – Caribou, ME

Preservation Trust of Vermont village stores grant fund – statewide in VT

The maximum grant amount is $1 million for “infrastructure,” defined below. For all other applications the maximum amount is $350,000. Multistate awards may receive a maximum per project of $1 million.

Varies from 20 to 50% according to the level of distress in the county where the project is located, as determined by the NBRC

Additional cost sharing may be required

Substantial

Application information (Note that applications must be submitted through the agency website, not through grants.gov.)

General program information

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

Project grants support projects addressing business development, physical infrastructure, education, health care, leadership, and civic capacity in Appalachian communities

These funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including culture or arts based placemaking and economic development projects. ARC’s strategic plan specifically calls for efforts to “strengthen Appalachia’s community and economic development potential by leveraging the Region’s natural and cultural heritage assets.”

Local governments, state governments, and nonprofits in Appalachian states

Anniston and Gadsden Are Ready to Recruit Business – Anniston and Gadsden, AL

City of Demorest Strategic Plan – Demorest, GA

Tourism Master Plan for Eastern KY

Variable

2019 awards range: $5,000 to $8 million

Variable. The norm is 100%.

No published information

Interested parties should contact their state program manager and request a pre-application package.

General program information

Department of Transportation (DOT)

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

The Pilot Program for TOD Planning provides funding to local communities to help them integrate land use and transportation planning with new capital investment in transit. The program supports comprehensive planning to improve economic development, improve transit connectivity and access for pedestrians and cyclists, and enable mixed-use development near transit stations.

DOT awards these funds to local and state government entities. Individual organizations may be able to guide their local governments’ use of funds, but cannot access them directly.

While not eligible for direct funding, practitioners may have opportunities to partner with eligible recipients to integrate arts or culture based elements into the transit oriented developments funded with this grant program.

Applicants must be FTA grantees (i.e., existing direct and designated recipients), as of the publication date of the funding announcement.

Transit-Oriented Development along bus rapid transit corridor – Saint Petersburg, FL

Transit-Oriented Development near proposed downtown circulator – Rochester, MN

$2 million

Federal funding share will not exceed 80%

Substantial

Application information

Department of Education

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Promise Neighborhoods is a large-scale, multisector initiative intended to improve the educational and developmental outcomes of children and youth in distressed communities and transform the communities themselves. Promise Neighborhoods require collaborative planning and implementation by a range of partners including local governments and government agencies, schools, and community based nonprofit developers and service providers. They work together to build a cradle-to-career continuum of educational programs and family and community supports.

In communities where a Promise Neighborhood coalition is working, creative placemaking practitioners can seek ways to participate in planning and implementation to incorporate arts and cultural elements into the community plan.

The program provides funding to support eligible entities, including:

• nonprofits, which may be faith based
• institutions of higher education
• Indian tribes in partnership with their local schools and local education agencies

San Diego Promise Neighborhood – San Diego, CA

Promise Heights – Baltimore, MD

$6 million

50% of award

Substantial

Locations of Promise Neighborhoods communities and partners

General program information

Environmental Protection Agency

Smart Growth Program

This new planning assistance program from EPA is designed to help communities revitalize their Main Streets by attracting visitors for outdoor recreation.

Eligible activities include:

• plans to connect local residents to nearby outdoor assets
• development or expansion of trail networks
• development and marketing of local amenities, such as Main Street shops and restaurants, to attract visitors

This is one of the few federal funding programs that distinctly supports placemaking. There could be ample opportunity to integrate arts and local culture as part of the Main Street plans.

Local governments, Indian tribes, nonprofits

Cambridge, NY

Jasper, AL

No published information

No published information

No published information

2021 application

General program information

Department of Homeland Security

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

The Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program helps communities recover from major disasters. Grant funds support debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoration of public infrastructure.

FEMA obligates funding for specific PA projects directly to an affected state, locality or tribe. These local governments then pass award funding through to the eligible applicants (subgrantees).

Funds from this program may be used for repair/rebuild of facilities and infrastructure, including parks and recreation facilities that might be part of creative placemaking efforts.

Local governments, states, tribes, territories, certain nonprofits

Facilities repairs – Fernandina Beach, FL

Institute of Puerto Rican Culture repair of public buildings – San Juan, PR

No published maximum

The federal share of assistance is not less than 75% of the eligible cost.

Substantial

General program information and application instructions

Department of Homeland Security

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) is a new program intended to help states, local communities, tribes and territories execute hazard mitigation projects in order to reduce the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards. BRIC replaces the existing Pre-Disaster Mitigation program.

The BRIC program is part of the federal government’s effort to shift focus from disaster response to proactive community resilience. This program will fund a variety of mitigation activities and focus particularly on infrastructure projects and critical community services like health, communications and shelter.

Creative placemaking practitioners could partner with recipient local governments to bring creative elements and culturally sensitive perspectives to disaster mitigation planning, or integrate disaster resilience into the fabric of existing creative revitalization efforts.

Local, state, and tribal governments

New program

Each state and territory may apply for up to $600,000 in the State/Territory Allocation. Tribal set-aside is not to exceed $600,000 in cost share per applicant. In the national competition, applicants may submit an unlimited number of mitigation project subapplications each valued up to $50,000,000 of federal cost share.

Federal funding can support up to 75% of eligible costs.

Substantial

General program information and application instructions

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

This program funds projects that help local and regional food business enterprises increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. Eligible uses of funding include planning, feasibility studies, market research, and training and technical assistance for the business enterprise and/or for producers working with the business enterprise.

These funds could be useful in placemaking efforts that center on local or regional foods, including food business incubators.

Local and tribal governments, nonprofits, economic development corporations, agricultural businesses and cooperatives, community supported agriculture networks and associations, regional farmers’ market authorities

The HÄNA Community Food Assessment: Designing a Food System from the Ground Up – Hana, HI

Developing a Kitchen Incubator for Food Entrepreneurs – Lincoln, NE

LFPP planning projects range: $25,000 to $100,000

LFPP implementation projects range: $100,000 to $500,000

25%

Moderate

Program and application info

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

This funding supports projects that increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products through direct producer-to-consumer markets. These include domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, online sales or other direct producer-to-consumer (including direct producer-to-retail, direct producer-to-restaurant and direct producer-to-institutional marketing) market opportunities.

The FMPP offers both Capacity Building grants and Community Development Training and Technical Assistance grants. Capacity Building grants are intended to build the applicants’ own long-term organizational capacity in the development, coordination and expansion of direct-to-consumer agriculture businesses. Community Development Training and Technical Assistance grants support applicants’ efforts to provide assistance to farm and ranch operations in the development, coordination and expansion of direct-to-consumer agriculture businesses.

These funds could be useful in placemaking efforts that center local or regional foods, including community farmers markets or agritourism sites. They can also support specific culturally relevant producer-to-consumer programs.

Local and tribal governments, nonprofits, economic development corporations, agricultural businesses and cooperatives, community supported agriculture networks and associations, regional farmers’ market authorities.

Development of Direct Producer-to-Consumer Markets – Tohono O’odham Nation (AZ)

Fresh Food in Every Language: Expanding Access to Fresh Produce through Culturally Competent Marketing, Outreach and Education – Lowell, MA

FMPP Capacity Building projects range: $50,000 to $250,000

Community Development Training and Technical Assistance projects range: $100,000 to $500,000

25%

Moderate

Program and application information

Environmental Protection Agency

Smart Growth Program

Local Foods, Local Places funding provides technical assistance to help communities create more vibrant downtowns by developing community oriented local food systems. These projects have multiple benefits including environmental protection, economic revitalization, community engagement and improved healthy food access. Local Foods, Local Places projects may include farmers markets; community gardens; community kitchens, incubators and food hubs; and cooperative grocery stores in Main Street corridors.

This is not a grant program and funds are not provided directly to applicants. EPA will furnish technical experts to work with selected communities to bring stakeholders together and create an action plan for their food systems projects.

This program could contribute to community cultural plans and creative placemaking efforts centered on food access or culinary arts.

Local and tribal governments, nonprofits

Commercial kitchen and training center – Springfield, IL

Colleton Commercial Kitchen – Walterboro, SC

No published information

No published guidance

No published information

Application information

Delta Regional Authority

This grant program supports economic development activities across the 252 counties and parishes of the eight-state Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions.

SEDAP funds projects in one or more of the following categories:

• basic public infrastructure
• transportation infrastructure
• business development, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship
• workforce development

Half of the overall program funds support projects in the first two categories and the remaining half support projects in the second two categories.

All projects should support one or more of the Delta Regional Authority’s strategic goals:

• improved workforce competitiveness
• strengthened infrastructure
• increased community capacity

Funds could help support efforts to create culture or arts based economic revitalization in rural areas and small towns, for street improvements or commercial district development.

Local and state governments and public bodies, nonprofits within the 252 counties of the eight-state Delta region

South Arkansas Center for Culinary Arts – El Dorado, AR

Pottery Direct facility – McKenzie, TN

Variable

10% for business development and workforce development applications

No match may be required for basic public or transportation infrastructure applications, at the discretion of the Delta Regional Authority

Substantial

Grant requests originate at the local development district level. They are not posted on grants.gov. Find your local development district.

More information about the application process

General program information

Department of Health and Human Services

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

This program helps the recovery community increase the prevalence and quality of long-term substance abuse and addiction recovery support.

Eligible uses of funds include:

• building connections between recovery community organizations and other recovery support services and networks
• campaigns to reduce the stigma associated with drug/alcohol addiction
• public education and outreach on issues relating to drug/alcohol addiction and recovery

The program could be used to provide culturally relevant treatment options for specific populations, or to implement creative strategies to integrate the recovery community with surrounding community.

Recovery community organizations (RCOs). RCOs are independent nonprofits led and governed by representatives of local communities of recovery. To ensure that recovery communities are fully represented, only organizations controlled and managed by members of the addiction recovery community are eligible to apply.

One Community, One Family – Batesville, IN

Chicago Recovering Communities Coalition – Chicago, IL

Anticipated award amount: $200,000

The matching funds must not be less than $15 for each $85 of federal funds provided in all years of the grant.

Moderate

Application information

Justice Department

Bureau of Justice Assistance

The Innovations in Community-Based Crime Reduction Program (CBCR) supports local and tribal communities to address violent crime issues in distressed neighborhoods through collaborative problem-solving approaches that are linked with broader neighborhood revitalization efforts.

The goal of CBCR is to reduce crime, increase trust and improve community quality of life. The program integrates these efforts as part of a comprehensive strategy to rebuild and revitalize neighborhoods. Through a broad, cross-sector partnership team, including neighborhood residents, grantees identify hot spots of violent and serious crime that are negatively impacting their communities and employ data-driven, cross-sector strategies to address them.

This program focuses heavily on community engagement, collaboration and problem-solving approaches to local crime issues. For instance, building and landscaping practices can discourage criminal activity, and community events can bring more life to neglected spaces. These approaches could be important elements of part of a broader placemaking strategy, particularly on commercial corridors.

Even if creative placemaking practitioners do not apply for these funds directly, they could be members of a multisector coalition, if such an effort is going on in their community.

Units of local government, institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education), nonprofits (including tribal nonprofits), federally recognized Indian tribal governments (acting as a fiscal agent thereof)

Prospect Corridor – Kansas City, MO

Village of Arts and Humanities – Philadelphia, PA

$1.5 million

Not required

Substantial

Application information

General program information

Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Environmental Justice

These grants support community-driven projects that help communities understand the local environmental and public health issues affecting them and develop consensus based strategies to address those issues.

This program could support creative and culturally aware strategies to engage community members and build consensus around local environmental and public health issues, as well as creative strategies to address them.

• Nonprofits – including, but not limited to environmental justice networks, faith based organizations and those affiliated with religious institutions
• Federally recognized tribal governments – including Alaska Native Villages
• Tribal organizations

Still River Watershed Connections program – Danbury, CT 

Refugee Dream Center health education workshops – Providence, RI

$30,000

Not required

Moderate

Application information

Corporation for National and Community Service

These grants support eligible organizations to hire AmeriCorps members to work in evidence based or evidence-informed interventions to strengthen communities. Similar to a domestically based Peace Corps, AmeriCorps assigns members to community service positions in communities throughout the country.

Americorps members fulfill a wide variety of community development jobs, including youth development and education, workforce development, environmental conservation, and building affordable housing.

These grants could support staffing for organizations engaged in creative or culturally focused community revitalization.

Local, state and tribal governments; nonprofits; institutions of higher education

Community Art Collaborative – Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

Overtown Youth Center – Miami, FL

$15,479 per member per year

Variable up to 50%

Variable depending on type of award

Application information

General program information

Corporation for National and Community Service

These grants support eligible Native organizations to hire AmeriCorps members to work in evidence based or evidence-informed interventions to strengthen communities. Similar to a domestically based Peace Corps, AmeriCorps assigns members to community service positions in communities throughout the country.

Americorps members fulfill a wide variety of community development jobs, including youth development and education, workforce development, environmental conservation and building affordable housing.

These grants could support staffing for organizations engaged in creative or culturally focused community revitalization.

Tribal governments and tribal entities

San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians Mentoring Program – Valley Center, CA

Sitting Bull College (SD) GED Project – McLaughlin and Mobridge, SD

$15,479 per member per year

Variable up to 50%

Variable depending on type of award

Application information

General program information

Corporation for National and Community Service

These grants support eligible organizations to hire Senior Corps members to work on evidence based or evidence-informed interventions to strengthen communities. Senior Corps members are individuals over the age of 55 who engage in community service through an approved national service position. They bring their skills and experience to help organizations tackle a diverse range of activities.

Applications for RSVP Senior Corps grants must focus on one of the program’s priority areas: disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, or veterans and military families.

These grants could support staffing for organizations engaged in creative or culturally focused community revitalization.

Local, state and tribal governments; nonprofits; institutions of higher education

Community Teamwork, Inc. – Lowell, MA

RSVP+ Program – Rapid City, SD

$470,000

Variable up to 30%

Moderate

Application information

General program information

Corporation for National and Community Service

These grants provide support for major community service activities in observance of either September 11th or Martin Luther King Jr. Day that engage a significant number of volunteers.

These funds could be used to recruit volunteers to execute a community arts or cultural project as part of day of service activities.

Local, state and tribal governments; nonprofits; institutions of higher education

Newstories – Spokane, WA

Greene Lamp Community Action – Kinston, NC

None

Requests between $20,000 and $200,000 encouraged

Martin Luther King Jr. Day project applicants must provide 70% of total project costs. No match requirement for September 11th projects.

Moderate

Application information

U.S. Treasury – Internal Revenue Service

Department of the Interior – National Park Service

The HTC program provides tax credits to attract private investment for rehabilitation of historic properties. Property owners of income-producing historic structures may apply for credits to cover 20% of the qualified costs of rehabilitating the structure. The credits can be used by the property owner to reduce their own tax burden, or can be sold to investors to raise capital for project costs.

These credits can be used to generate funding for rehabilitation or preservation of historic structures that are part of a cultural or historic district or that house arts or cultural programming.

Property owners of “certified historic structures” (as determined by the National Park Service)

Warren Opera House – Greenfield, IA

Textile Mill – New Market, NH

Variable by state

Tax credits can cover 20% of qualified rehabilitation expenditures; property owners must cover the remaining 80%.

Substantial

Applications are handled by each state’s State Historic Preservation Office.

General program information

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Community Planning and Development

The Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program (Section 108) provides a source of low-cost, long-term financing for a large array of economic and community development projects, including economic development, housing, public facilities, infrastructure and physical development projects, as well as improvements to increase their resilience against natural disasters. This flexibility of applications makes it one of the most potent and important public investment tools that HUD offers to states and local governments.

The program allows local units of government to leverage portions of their CDBG funds into federally guaranteed loans large enough to pursue physical and economic revitalization projects capable of redeveloping entire neighborhoods. The 2018-2022 HUD Strategic Plan outlines two important goals where the use of Section 108 can help communities meet them:

Goal 2B: Meet the Need for Quality Affordable Rental Homes: Expand the supply of affordable rental homes where they are most needed

Goal 4A: Build Inclusive and Sustainable Communities Free from Discrimination: Catalyze economic development and job creation, while enhancing and preserving community assets

These goals may incorporate creative elements or contribute to a larger creative placemaking effort.

CDBG rules and requirements apply in determining eligibility. Projects and activities must either principally benefit low- and moderate income (LMI) persons, aid in the elimination or prevention of slums and blight, or meet urgent needs of the community.

 Eligible public entity applicants:

States
Metropolitan cities and urban counties
Non-entitlement communities that are assisted in the submission of applications by States that administer the CDBG Program
Non-entitlement communities eligible to receive CDBG funds under the HUD-administered Small Cities CDBG Program (i.e. Hawaii). The public entity may be the borrower, or it may designate a public agency as the borrower

Eligible Section 108 Projects:

Acquisition of real property
Rehabilitation of publicly owned real property
Housing rehabilitation eligible under CDBG
Construction, reconstruction, or installation of public facilities (including street, sidewalk, and other site improvements)
Related relocation, clearance, and site improvements
Loan to for-profit businesses for economic development purposes
Payment of interest on the guaranteed loan and issuance costs of public offerings
Debt service reserves
Finance fees
Public works and site improvements in colonias
In limited circumstances, affordable housing construction

Reading, PA, environmental remediation and redevelopment of the factory into a multi-purpose arts center

Springfield, MA, redevelopment of the historic Paramount Theater to create a performing arts center

Variable

N/A

Substantial

CDBG rules and requirements apply to Section 108 projects. All projects and activities must meet one of the CDBG Programs three national objectives. Section 108 accomplishments must be included in the Consolidated Annual performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) This includes the loan amount, amount advanced, total CDBG investment, number of jobs estimated in the loan application, the number of jobs created or retained, the number of housing units assisted, the number of housing units occupied by LMI households, or slum and blight designated areas assisted.

States report Section 108 accomplishments in the State Performance and Evaluation Report (PER).

General program information