CDBG: Economic Development Grant - Downtown Revitalization

CDBG: Economic Development Grant - Downtown Revitalization

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Missouri Department of Economic Development
Amount: Up to US $750,000
Last Updated: February 14, 2026

Summary

The CDBG: Economic Development Grant for Downtown Revitalization supports eligible Missouri communities in revitalizing their downtown areas through facade improvements and infrastructure investments. This open, year-round grant program aims to eliminate slum and blight conditions and enhance economic opportunities by funding projects that create jobs and restore community vitality. Applications are accepted continuously until funding is exhausted, making it a vital resource for local development efforts.

Overview

NOTE: This is an open, year-round cycle.  Applications will be accepted until funding is exhausted. CDBG: Economic Development Grant This category allows communities to improve their local economies through revitalization of downtowns, including façade improvements and code violation corrections for privately-owned commercial buildings and by investing in publicly-owned infrastructure that will support private job creation. Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed at the first of every month, until funds have been exhausted. Downtown Revitalization This program offers opportunity for eligible Missouri communities to engage in revitalization efforts to renew downtown areas and restore them to their former prominence as a center of community activity. These projects eliminate slum and blight conditions on the front and selected side facades of eligible buildings in core downtown areas, and address code violations for commercial structures. The Downtown Revitalization Program operates under an open cycle, meaning that applications will be accepted year-round and will be funded, if meeting the minimum criteria of the guidelines, until funding is no longer available.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Downtown Revitalization Eligible applicants include non-entitlement cities and counties. Counties may apply on behalf of no more than one target area within their boundaries if applying under one application. Cities may apply for no more than two applications, with one being on behalf of a sub-applicant. Counties may apply for no more than three applications, with two being on behalf of sub-applicants.All applicants must include at least 25% of structures in the downtown area if utilizing the target area approach. The applicant is required to provide a match of no less than 20% of the proposed total project cost that is considered eligible for CDBG funding in the form of local public cash or in-kind, private cash, leveraged funding from other state or federal sources, or a combination thereof. All projects under the Downtown Revitalization Program must meet HUD’s slum and blight national objective. For most projects, activities will meet the national objective on an area basis. CDBG will not waive match requirements for the Downtown Revitalization Program.Eligible Activities Exterior work on private facades with a public easement; Public facades, excluding facilities intended for the operation of government; Activities necessary to address code violations of private commercial structures, or mixed-use structures so long as CDBG funds are not used for residential portions of the building(s); Interior/Exterior work on non-profit community and neighborhood facilities; and Infrastructure activities directly related to downtown revitalization