Community Economic Development Projects
This grant provides $18.57 million to Community Development Corporations for innovative projects that create and sustain jobs and businesses for low-income individuals in underserved urban and rural areas.
Funder: Administration for Children and Families - OCS
Due Dates (Anticipated): July 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: $100,000–$800,000 per award; ~$17.5M total funding; ~21 awards expected; project period typically 3 years
Summary: Supports Community Development Corporations in creating jobs and businesses for individuals with low income in persistently poor and high-unemployment communities.
Description
This federal grant program, administered by the Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families, provides funding to private, non-profit Community Development Corporations (CDCs) to support job creation and business development for individuals with low income. The program aims to reduce poverty, chronic unemployment, and community deterioration in both urban and rural areas by investing in projects that are innovative, financially viable, and sustainable. CED-funded projects are expected to recruit and retain low-income individuals in newly created jobs, support their long-term employment, and ensure business viability for at least one year after project completion. Both construction and non-construction projects are eligible, and OCS encourages targeting rural and underserved areas as well as alignment with other OCS-funded priorities.
