Smart Growth National Funding Opportunities
EPA developed this guide of national funding resources to assist local and state governments, communities, and nongovernmental organizations who are addressing the varied aspects of smart growth. Find regional, state, and local funding opportunities.
This list is not an exhaustive compilation of all possible funding resources in the smart growth arena. It lists federal resources and directories of funding sources maintained by outside organizations.
For funding from the HUD-DOT-EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities, please see Partnership for Sustainable Communities Grants, Assistance, and Programs.
For all available federal grants, see www.grants.gov, and for all federal funding programs, see the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
On this page
- Affordable Housing and Community Development
- Brownfields
- Energy
- Foundations
- General Smart Growth or Environmental
- Historic Preservation
- Land Preservation and Conservation
- Rural and Agricultural
- Transportation (includes trails, bike, pedestrian)
- Water Quality, Wetlands, and Coasts
Affordable Housing and Community Development
PolicyLink: Equity Tools Exit
Includes an Affordable Housing Tool Group, with information on how to ensure access to good jobs and opportunities to save and build assets to increase community health and stability.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Community Development
Includes links to several HUD funding programs, including Community Development Block Grants, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, and the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program, to address locally identified community needs.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)
Formula-based block grant program to build, buy, and/or rehabilitate affordable housing for rental or homeownership or provide direct rental assistance to low-income people.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Section 202 Housing for Elderly Program
Entitlement program to award capital and rental assistance to finance, construct, rehabilitate, or redevelop property to house very low-income elderly persons.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities
Entitlement program to award capital and rental assistance to develop rental housing with the availability of supportive services for very low-income adults with disabilities.
U.S. Department of the Treasury: Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
Provides small infusions of capital to institutions that serve distressed communities and low-income individuals.
Brownfields
SMARTe: Sources of Money Exit
Lists a variety of financing strategies used in site revitalization, including public grants, subsidized low-interest loans, revolving loan funds, bonds, taxes and special assessments, and private financing.
U.S. EPA Brownfields Program: Types of Brownfields Grant Funding
EPA's Brownfields Program provides direct funding for brownfields assessment, cleanup, revolving loans, and environmental job training and provides technical information on brownfields financing matters.
Energy
U.S. Department of Energy: State Energy Program
Provides funding to states to design and carry out energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.
Foundations
Convergence Partnership Exit
A collaborative of funders that aims to strengthen and accelerate efforts to support healthy eating and active living.
Environmental Grantmakers Association Exit
Coalition of more than 225 foundations that give environmental grants.
Foundation Center Exit
Helps grant-seekers find foundations to match their needs.
Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities Exit
Offers a searchable database of foundations that support various elements of smart growth.
General Smart Growth or Environmental
Council of Development Finance Agencies Exit
CDFA lists resources on tools including tax credits, bonds, and tax-increment financing.
Red Lodge Clearinghouse: Funding Search Database Exit
Searchable database of funding sources.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration: Funding Opportunities
Funding available from EDA for economic development.
U.S. EPA: Environmental Justice Grants and Resources
Financial assistance to eligible organizations to build collaborative partnerships, identify local environmental and/or public health issues, and envision solutions and empower the community through education, training, and outreach.
Historic Preservation
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation: Federal Financial Assistance for Historic Preservation Projects—Disaster Response
Lists federal disaster relief programs that provide financial assistance for structural rehabilitation after a disaster or proactive efforts to reduce or prevent future potential damage.
National Park Service: Tax Incentives for Preserving Historic Properties
Preservation Tax Incentives encourage private investment in rehabilitating historic properties to generate jobs and low- and moderate-income housing.
National Park Service: State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants
The HPF provides matching grants to encourage private and non-federal investment in historic preservation efforts nationwide.
National Trust for Historic Preservation: Find Funding Exit
Links to funding resources for a wide variety of historic preservation projects.
National Trust for Historic Preservation: Historic Tax Credits Exit
Online resource on federal and state rehabilitation tax credits.
Land Preservation and Conservation
National Park Service: Land and Water Conservation Fund
LWCF grant funds may be used for state planning and for acquisition and development of state and local recreational facilities.
Rural and Agricultural
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service: Conservation Innovation Grants
Intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production.
U.S. Department of Agriculture: Rural Development Programs and Services
Funding opportunities for rural development.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Rural Gateway
Links to funding programs, when available, to support housing and economic development in rural areas.
Transportation (includes trails, bike, pedestrian)
American Trails: National Trails Training Partnership Exit
Federal funding programs relevant to trails and greenways.
Federal Highway Administration: Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding
Lists federal funding sources for bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Federal Highway Administration: Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Program (CMAQ)
CMAQ funds are awarded through states or metropolitan planning organizations in air quality non-attainment areas for projects that reduce transportation-related emissions, including transit, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities.
Federal Highway Administration: Transportation Alternatives Program
The Transportation Alternatives Program funds projects that expand transportation choices. It replaces programs including Transportation Enhancement Activities, Recreational Trails Program, and Safe Routes to School Program.
National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse: Funding Sources Exit
Links to funding for transportation enhancements programs.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center: Funding Exit
Provides funding sources and strategies for planning and design of pedestrian and bicycle activities.
Safe Routes to School Exit
Lists places to obtain funds for safe routes to school programs.
U.S. Department of Transportation: TIGER
Through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Discretionary Grant program, the Department of Transportation provides funding for road, rail, transit and port projects across the nation.
Water Quality, Wetlands, and Coasts
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Coastal Services Center: Funding Opportunities
Fellowship and funding opportunities from NOAA's Coastal Services Center.
U. S. EPA: Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection
Searchable database of financial assistance sources (grants, loans, cost-sharing) to fund watershed protection projects.
U.S. EPA: Watershed Funding
Tools, databases, and information about sources of funding to protect watersheds.
U.S. EPA: Wetlands State, Tribal, and Local Initiatives
Financial assistance opportunities to help states and tribes protect and manage wetlands.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program
Provides matching grants to states to acquire, restore, manage, or enhance coastal wetlands.