Active Allegheny Grant Program (AAGP)

Active Allegheny Grant Program (AAGP)

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Allegheny County
Amount: Up to US $50,000
Last Updated: October 08, 2025

Summary

The Active Allegheny Grant Program (AAGP) offers financial assistance to communities in Allegheny County to enhance bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, promoting physical activity and connectivity to local destinations. With a maximum grant request of $50,000, the program supports projects aligned with the County’s transportation plans and the Live Well Allegheny campaign. Eligible applicants include municipalities and non-profits, with a required local match ranging from 0% to 20%. The program excludes funding for amenities in parks.

Overview

Active Allegheny Grant Program (AAGP) Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) is pleased to announce that funding is now available through the Active Allegheny Grant Program (AAGP). The purpose of the AAGP is to provide financial assistance to communities to develop plans and design transportation projects that will when implemented, provide bicycle and pedestrian connections to important local destinations and transportation systems and increase residents’ opportunities for physical activity. ACED staff will help grantees assess the appropriateness of different funding programs to obtain funding for subsequent phases of project implementation if necessary. The AAGP seeks to implement projects that are identified in, or consistent with, Active Allegheny, the County’s active transportation plan, and the transportation element of Allegheny Places, the County’s comprehensive plan. In addition, by increasing opportunities for physical activity, the grant program expands the efforts of Allegheny County’s Live Well Allegheny (LWA) campaign to address major risk behaviors that contribute to chronic disease in Allegheny County. By providing resources for the design and integration of active, safe, and walkable, and bikeable spaces into neighborhoods, this effort also implements recommendations identified in Plan for a Healthier Allegheny, the County’s adopted guide for health improvement. Maximum Grant Request The maximum allowable request per applicant, project, or application is $50,000. ACED will consider applications that exceed $50,000 for projects that will significantly improve opportunities for physical activity, connect to major systems, and/or represent multi-municipal efforts. COGs and non-profit organizations administering a grant on behalf of a municipality/ies may include a fee not to exceed five percent (5%) of the grant amount. The administrative fee will be deducted from the total grant award. For example, a $50,000 grant request less the 5% administration fee ($2,500) leaves $47,500 for conducting the work of the project. Match Requirement The minimum required local match ranges from 0% to 20% as shown in Exhibit 1. If a match is required, it must be in cash (no in-kind services) and cannot be from other county funds.Matching funds must be obtained or committed at the time of submittal of the application.Municipalities participating in a multi-municipal project may have different match requirements. Municipalities must decide amongst themselves how to apportion the match, provided the overall amount of the match is provided.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applications will be accepted from: Allegheny County municipalitiesCouncils of Governments (COGs) applying on behalf of one or more of its membersNon-profit organizations applying on behalf of a municipalityMulti-municipal applications are allowed and strongly encouraged. Only one grant application will be considered per municipality, including joint applications.Eligible ProjectsFor this cycle of funding, ACED will consider the following types of projects:Planning – Projects that seek to identify the needs of pedestrians and bicyclists and develop recommendations for addressing the needs. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:Create a community-wide active transportation plan to identify needed improvements, policies, and programs related to active transportation modes.Conduct a planning effort to identify alternatives for addressing a specific walking or biking issue.Develop community walking and/or bicycling routes.Conduct a plan to develop a wayfinding system for active transportation modes.Engineering and Design – Projects that seek to move a proposed project towards construction implementation. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:Conduct engineering and design work on a pedestrian and/or bicycle improvement recommended in an existing plan (e.g., community comprehensive plan, bicycle and pedestrian plan, corridor plan, etc.). Conduct engineering and design work on a specific pedestrian and/or bicycle improvement highlighted in Active Allegheny and/or the transportation element of Allegheny Places.Any design work involving a PennDOT- or County-owned facility must comply with the applicable requirements of the respective agency. Project sponsors must coordinate with either agency before submitting the grant application to ensure that the proposed project is allowed.

Ineligibility

The grant program does not fund the planning and design of amenities and trails located in parks and conserved land.