Main Street Matters: Planning Grants

Funder: Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development

The Main Street Matters program supports downtown revitalization through grants that enhance community planning, business development, and safety improvements. Eligible applicants include local governments, redevelopment authorities, and non-profit organizations. Funding is flexible, aimed at initiatives such as planning activities and business improvement grants, with a maximum grant amount of $50,000 and a required 25% match. This initiative fosters vibrant, welcoming neighborhoods and encourages strategic investments to address community needs.

Overview
The Main Street Matters (MSM) program is designed to support our downtown cores and surrounding neighborhoods with tools to create healthy, vibrant, and welcoming communities. Funding is available to support revitalization efforts in planning, business support, aesthetic improvements, and the increase of safety and security.
Communities may wish to consider designation through the MSM program as a Main Street or Elm Street. Designation is an opportunity for targeted investment and development including the identification of specific needs for investment and/or development and the design and implementation of a strategy to address those needs.
Uses
A flexible tool for use in community and economic development for a variety of uses including planning activities, façade grant programs, business improvement grant programs, accessible housing programs, and district development grants.
Eligibility
Units of local government (counties, cities, boroughs, townships, towns, and home rule municipalities)Redevelopment and/or housing authoritiesNonprofit organizations to include economic development organizations, housing corporations, etc.Community development corporationsBusiness improvement districts, neighborhood improvement districts, downtown improvement districts, and similar organizations incorporated as authorities
Activities
Planning grants are available to address a particular need or circumstance within a community, undertake a study relevant to an identified need, or study the results of implementing a specific activity. Planning activities may include, but are not limited to:
Planning toward designation under the MSM Program,Implementing a business development survey in preparation of a business development strategy and/or preparation of the business development strategy,Planning for the establishment of a Neighborhood Improvement District, Business Improvement District, or a Downtown Improvement District, andArchitectural, engineering, legal, consulting, and other soft costs and fees required to implement a construction project designed to improve and/or revitalize a neighborhood or community such as streetscape, anchor building, or development projects. Priority consideration will be given to projects that can demonstrate secured funding for the construction project.
Funding Requirements and Limitations
Planning grants may not exceed $50,000.Planning grants require a match of 25% of the total eligible project cost. Grant requests from designated Main and Elm Street programs should refer to the MSM Main and Elm Street Match Requirements outlined in Appendix I.Applications to develop planning applications to work toward designation under the MSM program as a Main Street or Elm Street must include a plan to support a program manager for the five-year period of designation. Documentation may include commitment letters or fundraising history and, at a minimum, must demonstrate the ability to obtain funding (not necessarily committed funds).

Eligibility

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