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Livable Communities Grant Program

The Minnesota Legislature created the Livable Communities Act (LCA) in 1995. The LCA is a voluntary, incentive-based approach to help the Twin Cities metropolitan area address affordable and lifecycle housing needs while providing funds to communities to assist them in carrying out their development plans. LCA funds have leveraged millions of additional dollars in private and public investment that has provided new jobs, housing choices, and business growth.

Through funds provided by the Livable Communities Act (LCA), the Council awards grants to participating communities in the seven-county area to help them:

• Clean up polluted land for redevelopment, new jobs and affordable housing
• Create development or redevelopment that demonstrates efficient use of land and infrastructure through connected development patterns
• Create affordable housing opportunities

 

Funds are distributed through three LCA accounts:

Tax Base Revitalization Account (TBRA)

Cleaning up polluted land for redevelopment and productive uses creates jobs and fuels the region's economic engine. The result: a cleaner environment, revitalized communities, more housing opportunities, and growth directed to central cities and older suburbs where costly infrastructure like roads and sewers is already in place. This program is conducted in coordination with the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development.

• TBRA application form, contacts, and more
• Previously funded TBRA projects (pdf)

 

Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA)

The Demonstration Account provides funding for development and redevelopment projects that achieve connected development patterns that link housing, jobs and services, and use regional infrastructure efficiently. Grants are available for development projects.

• LCDA application form, contacts, and more
• Previously funded LCDA development grant projects (pdf)

 

Opportunity grants previously awarded for predevelopment activities are not available.
See previously funded opportunity grant projects (pdf).

 

Local Housing Incentive Account (LHIA)

The goals of the Local Housing Incentive Account (LHIA) are to help create and preserve affordable rental and ownership housing throughout the region for low- and moderate-income households at all of life's stages, and to support residential reinvestment and redevelopment to achieve economically healthy and livable communities. This program is conducted in coordination with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.

• LHIA application form, contacts, and more
• Previously funded LHIA projects (pdf)

 

Inclusionary Housing Account (IHA)

IHA grants were awarded from a one-time appropriation of funds to support affordable housing developments in which the reduction of local controls and regulations resulted in reduced development costs. The account is currently unfunded.

• Previously funded Inclusionary Housing Account (IHA) grants (pdf)