Community Development Administration (CDA) Announces More Than $20 Million Available in Grants for Grassroots Community Development Projects.

ST. LOUIS - The Community Development Administration (CDA) released the Neighborhood Transformation Grants NOFA today to fund projects in Economic Justice Index priority areas and Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs) in the city. Non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit a wide range of proposals from gardens and green spaces on vacant land, construction projects, hiring staff, to building affordable housing and more. The $20,250,000 of grant funding comes from State & Local Fiscal Relief Funds (SLFRF), a part of the American Rescue Plan.

The CDA is prioritizing four categories of potential projects:

1. Housing Production: $6,750,000
2. Home Repair: $4,000,000
3. Proactive Development: $4,000,000
4. Neighborhood Beautification & Capacity Building: $4,500,000

The Neighborhood Transformation Grants are the first of their kind as grant categories are guided by the City’s 2022 Economic Justice Action Plan’s three strategic pillars: economic empowerment, equitable & inclusive development, and neighborhood transformation. In the past, CDA has typically released RFPs for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and NOFAs for affordable housing development per HUD guidelines.

“Neighborhood Transformation Grants will be a one stop shop for reversing decades of disinvestment, empowering residents, and  transforming neighborhoods” CDA Executive Director Nahuel Fefer said. “These projects will drive the Mayor’s economic justice agenda by funding catalytic projects tailored for individual neighborhoods’ unique needs and historic challenges like: transforming vacant land from a liability into an asset, making a historic investment into housing, and knitting the city together with vibrant commercial corridors.”

Nonprofit organizations have until May 15, 2023 to submit applications for projects. The CDA anticipates announcing awards in July 2023 and recipients will have until 2027 to complete their projects, per ARPA regulations. 

Applications will be evaluated, scored, and selected by CDA based on the applicant’s capability, budget, risk assessment, ability to provide innovative solutions, approach to the priorities, and other criteria. In addition, applicants will submit one-page project descriptions in their application, which the public will be able to view and comment on.

The full Neighborhood Transformation Grants Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is available to view and download at: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/cda/neighborhood-nofa

About Community Development Administration (CDA): The Community Development Administration (CDA) serves as the City of St. Louis’ clearinghouse for federal, state, and local funds. CDA works to implement the Mayor's economic justice agenda by funding a wide range of public and nonprofit entities to provide public services, build affordable housing, combat blight, and conduct various other community development activities.