Livable Communities Grant Program

Free Brownfield Workshop February 23 in Arden Hills (pdf)

IMPORTANT LCA PROGRAM CHANGES

No execution of LCA grants for communities with late comp plan submittals.
New criteria for second grant extensions

See the details about these program changes that may affect your community.

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 LCA, the Council awards grants through three separate grants programs 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.

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.

Opportunity grants previously awarded for predevelopment activities are not available.

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.

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)

Metropolitan Council