Livable Communities Small Area Planning
Livable Communities Small Area Planning supports local governments with area planning to advance dense, connected, and equitable development across the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Funder: Metropolitan Council
Due Dates: April 15, 2026 (Round 1) | October 15, 2026 (Round 2)
Funding Amounts: Up to $100,000 per application; $400,000 available in 2026; three-year grants
Summary: Supports small area plans that advance dense, connected, and equitable development in the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Key Information: Applicants must be eligible local governments or development authorities in good standing with the Livable Communities program.
Description
The Metropolitan Council’s Livable Communities Small Area Planning grants help local governments establish conditions for dense, connected, and equitable development aligned with Imagine 2050. Funding supports staff and consultant time directly related to creating plans for defined areas, such as former corporate campuses, cultural districts, commercial corridors, and transit station areas.
The program prioritizes affordable housing near transportation and amenities, mixed-use infill or redevelopment, community-centered commercial spaces, and connections among housing, jobs, and transit. Plans may also address cultural corridors, ecological protection, public and ecosystem health, gathering spaces, and green infrastructure. The planning process is assessed for its attention to residents affected by disinvestment, displacement risks for Black, American Indian, and other residents of color, and meaningful representation of community perspectives.
