Apply for LCA Grants

Who can apply?

Local government organizations that participate in the Local Housing Incentives Account Program and counties or development authorities (for example, Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Economic Development Authority, or Port Authority) in the seven-county metro region.

Developers, individuals, or community organizations cannot apply directly to LCA programs. However, developers and community organizations can and often do work with a government partner to apply.

Applicants with housing projects should have a locally adopted Fair Housing Policy. For more information about adopting a Fair Housing Policy, see the LCA Resource Library.

MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL-BASED APPLICANTS ONLY: Minneapolis and Saint Paul have a pre-application process with separate due dates. Learn more about the Minneapolis and Saint Paul applications. The pre-application process does not apply for Minneapolis LHIA Affordable Homeownership program applicants.

How do I apply?

LCDA, LCDA-TOD, Pre-Development, Policy Development and TBRA applications are submitted through WebGrants, an online grants portal. If you are new to WebGrants (you have never had an account before) you will need to create an account. LHIA applications go through Minnesota Housing.
  • For government organization staff: Send a list to the Program Manager of everyone who will collaborate on the application before they create an account. Program officers cannot create accounts for users. All collaborators will then be approved soon after registration.

How do I register?

If you have never had an account in WebGrants before, register here. You don’t need to create a new account if you have had one in the past, even if you have changed roles or are working with a different organization. Just let the program officer know that you need your account updated and they will help you. Program officers can help check your registration information but cannot create a new account for users. 

  • For applicant staff – send the program officer a list of everyone who is going to be working on the application before the project team registers. This will help the program officer quickly assign any new team members to the right WebGrants account.
How do I start an application?
Once you login you can search for different Funding Opportunities. Find the grant you want to apply for (example: LCDA Development 2021). You will then be able to start a new application.

Who is the applicant? Who is the grantee?
The applicant is the City, county, HRA/EDA, or Port Authority submitting the application. If you are awarded a grant, the grantee will be the same organization that submits the application.

I am working with a team. Who should be listed as the primary grantee?
The primary grantee should be the project manager from the government organization that is applying for the grant. The primary contact will be able to add others from the project team to the application as collaborators in the General Information section of the application.

How do I add collaborators to the application?
Anyone working on the grant will need to have an account in WebGrants and be connected to the same organization. The primary contact, who should be from the government organization applying, can add collaborators as additional contacts in the General Information section by selecting members of the project team in the drop-down menu under Additional Contacts. If you don’t see the person you are looking for, make sure they have registered. Check with the program officer to make sure they have been linked to the right account.

How do I edit the number of jobs or housing units?
You can change the number of jobs or housing units by clicking on the entry you want to change. After clicking on the number you want to change you will be taken back to the editing screen for that entry.

Can I save a section and come back?
No, WebGrants doesn’t save sections until they are complete. You don’t need to complete the entire application at once, but you do need to complete the section you are working on before saving and exiting.

The Project Data Profile mapping tool is available to help applicants gather information about the census tract their project is located in. Applicants can use this information to address scoring criteria that asks about community specific details.

LCA Project Data Profile Mapping Tool

(Shapefiles and tabular data for the tract information can be found here)

Reach out early. Talk with program officers early Program officers are available to talk with your project team at any point in the process before we start reviewing applications. We recommend you set a time to talk with the program officer about your proposed project and the application process.

Coordinate completing application sections. Decide early who will complete specific sections of the application and which team members have the information needed to answer the application questions. The program officer can send you a Word document with the narrative questions to help your team collaborate on the application

Complete sections. Be prepared to complete an entire section when you start it. You cannot save your application in the middle of completing a section, so information you enter into a section will be lost if you don’t complete the section. This is another good reason to work on questions in Word and only submit them into Webgrants when they are completed.

Send collaborators list to the program officer. Send a list of all application collaborators to the program officer early. When you know who will be working on the application, have the applicant contact (staff member from the city, county, or EDA/HRA) send the names and email addresses of everyone who will work on the application. We recommend two-three collaborators. Everyone will still need to register in WebGrants, but having a list early will make it easier for the program officer to approve registrations quickly.

Have a work plan. Talk about how the project team will work together if the grant is awarded. Make sure roles and responsibilities are clear (grant administration, award draws, project activities). Have shared understanding of the project timeline and how it aligns with the term of the grant. Most importantly, ensure a shared understanding of what expenses are eligible for reimbursement and who is responsible for providing draw request documentation.

Have a subrecipient agreement We recommend that the applicant has a subrecipient agreement in place with the developer. This will help the team agree on expectations and deliverables from the beginning. 

Find a variety of resources to help you best complete your application below.

2021 Webinars
  • Project Process
    This session features presentations from Paul Bauknight, Colleen Carey, and Josie Shardlow on project process issues including identifying and addressing community needs, creating outcomes and impacts through development projects, community participation, and how to conduct community engagement.

    Watch the Project Process Webinar (VIDEO) recording, and for additional resources read the Key Takeaways Summary (PDF) from the webinar and workshops.
  • Equity
    This session features a presentation from Joo Hee Pomplun on racial equity issues including how to understand the historic and ongoing role of racial disparities and inequities in a community, how those least represented and most impacted by those disparities can be involved, and discusses ways in which a project can contribute to racial equity outcomes, reduce racial disparities, and increase racial diversity and inclusion.

    Watch the Equity Webinar (VIDEO) recording, and for additional resources read the Key Takeaways Summary (PDF) from the webinar and workshops.
     
  • Environment
    This session features presentations from Dan Kalmon and Della Schall Young on sustainable site design practices highlighting how to minimize climate impacts, reduce green house gas emissions, conserve natural resources, connect to green open space, and contribute to the region’s natural systems.

    Watch the Environment Webinar (VIDEO) recording, and for additinoal resources read the Key Takeaways Summary (PDF) from the webinar and workshops.
  • Design
    This session features presentations from from Bruce Chamberlain and Satoko Muratake on urban and architectural design strategies to create intentional community outcomes and impacts through both the design process and final development project.

    Watch the Design Webinar (VIDEO) recording, and for additinoal resources read the Key Takeaways Summary (PDF) from the webinar and workshops.

  • Thrive MSP 2040 
    Guiding planning vision for the seven-county metro region

  • Choice, Place, and Opportunity 
    Overview of existing regional disparities and guidance on achieving more equitable access and outcomes

  • Housing Policy Plan
    Council overview of regional housing needs and challenges, affordability priorities, and expanding housing choice

  • Transportation Policy Plan 
    Guiding planning documents for highway, transit, bike and pedestrian, freight, aviation transportation as well as environmental justice and air quality considerations

  • Water Resources Policy Plan 
    Guidance on integrating planning for wastewater, water supply, and surface water management

  • Regional Parks Policy Plan 
    Guiding document directing regional park and trail development, providing equitable access, and system expansions

Grants Process

Build Project Team

Step 1
Developers should talk with the city about interest in applying to an LCA program
Projects in Minneapolis and Saint Paul go through a pre-application process; the city will determine which projects they will submit to an LCA program

Project Team

Step 2
Review application requirements
Determine plan to complete application with team

Apply for Grants

Step 3
Applications open at least four weeks before the due date
Application review
Funding recommendations to CDC
 

CDC recommendation to Council

Step 4
Council approves funding recommendation
 

Grant Administration

Step 5
Finalize grant agreements
Grant monitoring
Begin drawing funds
Grant closeout

Contacts

LCDA & Pre-Development & Policy Development

Hannah Gary (she/her)
[email protected]

LHIA & Affordable Homeownership

Ashleigh Johnson (she/her)
[email protected]

All TBRA Programs

Marcus Martin (he/him)
[email protected]

TOD & Pre-Development

Stephen Klimek (he/him)
[email protected]

Fair Housing Policy, Housing Goals, ALHOA

Hilary Lovelace (she/her)
[email protected]

Grant Administration

Samuel Johnson (he/him)
[email protected]