Neighborhood Initiatives Fund Program: Tier 2 Grant

The Neighborhood Initiatives Fund Program: Tier 2 provides grants to support equitable, place-based initiatives in Pittsburgh's commercial corridors. Designed to enhance economic potential and foster community partnerships, the program funds projects ranging from $50,001 to $150,000. Applications are currently closed for 2025 due to funding constraints. This program aims to improve quality of life and encourage investment in neighborhood revitalization efforts.

NOTE: Please note, this program is currently closed for applications in 2025 due to lack of  funding.
Statement of Purpose
The Neighborhood Initiatives Fund Program (NIF or the Program), administered by the URA’s Business Solutions Unit, is designed to provide grants to:

• Help unlock the economic and placemaking potential within City of Pittsburgh neighborhood commercial corridors.
• Support vision-to-action community investment strategies that build a more equitable Pittsburgh; and
• Formalize collaborative partnerships across the City of Pittsburgh (City).

The Program is intended to assist nonprofit and community-based organizations with neighborhood scale projects within commercial corridors that improve quality of life and maintain the corridor as a desirable location for small business. NIF projects include efforts that encourage investment through vacant property reclamation and stewardship, historic preservation, brownfield redevelopment, public infrastructure improvements, and other eligible efforts.
Use of Funding
The Program will fund up to 15 proposals for non-housing related place-based initiatives and equitable neighborhood-scale projects within Pittsburgh’s neighborhood commercial corridors. Funds are awarded on a competitive basis.
Specialized Grant Categories
The Neighborhood Initiatives fund has grown since its founding in 2019. With additional funds the URA is now able to offer categorized grant opportunities to fit the growing needs of communities.
These categories are:

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades in business corridors
• Public Art Installation and Improvements
• Nonprofit Building Improvements
• Small Nonprofit Organization Grants
• Tier 2 grants will fund projects between $50,001 and $150,000

Tier 2 grants will require a 2:1 match -- for every two dollars ($2) of Program funds awarded to the project, there must be at least one-dollar ($1) of match invested in the project by the grantee. Matching funds must come from non-URA and non-city sources.