Drinking Water Regionalization Planning and Assistance Grant Program

Drinking Water Regionalization Planning and Assistance Grant Program is sponsored by Minnesota Department of Health. This grant program provides funding to cities, townships, and counties for planning activities, including feasibility studies, assessments, and design work, for new or expanded regional drinking water systems. A 25% match is required.

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Regional Drinking Water Improvements Drinking water systems are costly and resource-intensive, but local governments can reduce costs and improve efficiency by regionalizing their drinking water systems.

The Drinking Water Regionalization Planning and Assistance Grant Program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Health and provides up to $300,000 in funding — with a 25% match required — to cities, townships, and counties planning for new or expanded regional drinking water systems. Eligible expenses are limited to planning activities, including feasibility studies, assessments, and design work.

Because annual funding is capped for each regional drinking water system or district, cities should coordinate with their regional partners before applying. The commissioner of health will develop an application process and selection criteria by Nov. 1, 2026.

Learn more about the Drinking Water Regionalization Planning and Assistance Grant Program. Strengthen Local Housing Support Services Cities that provide housing support for recipients of medical assistance home and community-based services may be eligible for Housing Support Capacity-Building Grants administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

These grants are intended to help prevent homelessness and institutionalization by providing financial assistance to housing support providers. Municipal grant recipients may use funding for administrative expenses, assessing eligible housing assistance benefits, housing transition assistance, and the development of regional or collaborative housing support models.

Cities receiving funding must report data and project results to the commissioner of human services. Learn more about the Capacity Building Program. Improve Clearance Rates for Violent Crime Investigations Administered by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the Minnesota Clearance Grant Program aims to reduce violent crime by improving the clearance rate for nonfatal firearm shootings.

Law enforcement agencies may use funding for investigative resources, evidence-based policies and procedures, technical assistance, technology, employment of victim-witness coordinators, and partnerships with hospital-based violence intervention programs.

Priority will be given to law enforcement agencies that submit a detailed implementation and evaluation plan and demonstrate a commitment to working with other government agencies to improve clearance rates. Grant contract terms are negotiated annually, and participating agencies must submit a report to the commissioner of public safety twice each year. Learn more about the Minnesota Clearance Grant Program.

Upgrade Airport Radar Infrastructure Cities that are part of an airport authority may apply for Radar Infrastructure Grants administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Funding may be used for the acquisition, design, construction, and installation of mobile radar infrastructure and equipment for airspace and marine surveillance. Learn more about Radar Infrastructure Grants.

Build or Expand Emergency Shelter Capacity Cities interested in constructing publicly owned homeless shelters should consider applying for Emergency Shelter Grants issued by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Emergency Shelter Grants may cover up to 100% of eligible construction costs. Learn more about Emergency Shelter Capital Grants.

Help More First-Time Homebuyers in Your Community The Minnesota City Participation Program (MCPP) through Minnesota Housing can help you effectively and efficiently provide first-time homebuyer loans in your community with minimal administrative burden and no administrative fees.

By partnering with Minnesota Housing, eligible first-time buyers in your area will have access to our affordable Start Up loan program and downpayment and closing cost loans up to $18,000. We’ll connect you to our approved lenders and help you market this opportunity to homebuyers. The agency accepts new applications Jan.

2-15 each year. Participants can apply as city, county, or a multi-county. First-time homebuyers access the program through local, approved lenders.

Minnesota Housing provides monthly updates on how many buyers in your community are being served by the program. For more information, contact Greg Krenz, homeownership program manager, with questions at (651) 297-3623 or [email protected] .

2026 Protect Community Forests for Community Resiliency Grant The 2026 Protect Community Forests for Community Resiliency Grant will help communities reduce the impacts of emerald ash borer (EAB) through tree management and maintenance, education, and engagement efforts. There is $1.

7 million is available to communities for funding these efforts, which is provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). Cities are eligible to apply. Applications are due Sept.

14, 2026 . Learn more and apply for a community forests grant. Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) The ATTAIN competitive grant program will provide funding to deploy, install, and operate advanced transportation technologies to improve safety, mobility, efficiency, system performance, intermodal connectivity, and infrastructure return on investment.

Cities are eligible to apply. ATTAIN requires a minimum nonfederal cost share of 20%. Learn more and apply for ATTAIN funding.

Distressed Cities Technical Assistance (DCTA) Program The Distressed Cities Technical Assistance (DCTA) program, managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides Minnesota cities, towns, villages, tribes, and counties with a population under 50,000 the opportunity to strengthen their long-term fiscal health and local administrative capacity.

This program offers expert, hands-on guidance to help local leaders navigate challenges such as shifting market dynamics, economic decline, or the aftermath of natural disasters.

While the primary emphasis is on financial management — including cash flow forecasting and budget prioritizing — the assistance also covers governance, leadership development, data research, and community engagement to ensure small local governments can more effectively meet their residents’ needs.

To qualify, the local government must serve a population under 50,000 and meet one of the following two categories: Category 1: Economically Distressed. Must meet at least one of these 2021 ACS 5-year estimate benchmarks: Unemployment: Average rate of 9% or higher. Poverty: Rate of 20% or higher (excluding those in higher education).

Population loss: A decline of 5% or more since the 2010 Census. Category 2: Persistent Poverty Includes one or more census tracts with a poverty rate of 20% or higher over the last 30 years. Local units of government interested in DCTA should contact HUD Minneapolis Field Office Director Michele K.

Smith directly at [email protected] or (612) 370-3146. Please email [email protected] if you need technical assistance in another area and are unsure if it fits within the scope of the DCTA program. Learn more about the Distressed Cities Technical Assistance program.

Brownfield Assessment Grants Abandoned gas stations, former dry cleaners, or old manufacturing spaces exist in every community. Properties like these, called brownfields, can be a challenge to redevelop and often sit idle for years due to risks of perceived contamination. This can lead to neighborhood blight, unsafe structures, and polluted spaces that can harm people and the environment.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) can help. The MPCA is now accepting applications to its Brownfield Assessment Grant, which funds environmental investigations on brownfield properties across the state. Eligible applicants include local units of government, community organizations, nonprofits, small business owners, emerging developers, and tribal nations.

Funding can be used for Phase I and II environmental site assessments, sampling and analysis plans, and preparation of cleanup plans. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply for brownfield assessment grant funding.

Minnesota Broadband Line Extension Connection Program Minnesota Broadband Line Extension Connection Program, run by the Office of Broadband Development (OBD), helps connect homes and businesses without reliable broadband (defined as speeds below 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload) to internet service.

People can report to OBD that a wired broadband service is unavailable at their residence or business by entering information into the online application, by calling (651) 259-7610 and requesting a paper application, or by talking to someone at OBD who will complete the application on their behalf. A total of $15 million is available for the program. No more than $25,000 can be awarded per line extension.

The application portal is open. ISPs are notified of new locations every six months. Bidding and evaluation processes follow set timelines, and projects must be completed within 12 months of the contract date.

Learn more about the Broadband Line Extension Connection Program. Community Innovation grants The Bush Foundation’s Community Innovation (CI) grant program is a flexible program that invests in great ideas and the people who power them across our region. The program aims to: Develop, test, and spread great ideas.

Inspire, equip, and connect leaders. Learn more and apply for a CI grant. Establish a Local Housing Trust Fund With Help From the Minnesota Housing Partnership The Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP) is offering free assistance to rural communities to establish Local Housing Trust Funds (LHTF).

Funds can be used for education on Local Housing Trust Funds, as well as implementation of LHTF programs and community engagement activities. In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature appropriated $4. 8 million to a Local Housing Trust Fund (LHTF) State Match Program ; with $1 million appropriated in a prior year, available funds for the state match program total $5.

8 million. An application for state match funds is likely to be released in late summer or early fall. Learn more and apply for free technical assistance from MHP to establish or implement your LHTF.

MNOSHA WSC: Safety Grant Program The Safety Grant Program awards funds up to $10,000 to qualifying employers for projects designed to reduce the risk of injury and illness to their workers. To qualify, an employer must meet several conditions, including but not limited to: Having been in business for at least two years. Having at least one employee to create the employer/employee relationship.

Having workers’ compensation insurance. Having had an on-site hazard survey conducted by a qualified safety professional and a written report of the findings and recommendations to reduce the risk of injury or illness to employees. Having the knowledge and experience to complete the project and is committed to its implementation.

Being able to complete the project within 120 days of a fully executed contract. To qualify, the project must be supported by all public entities involved and comply with federal, state, and local regulations where applicable. Learn more and apply to the MNOSHA WSC: Safety Grant Program.

Cybersecurity Grant Program Now Available Statewide The state’s IT agency, Minnesota IT Services (MNIT), in partnership with the Minnesota Cybersecurity Task Force recently released the Whole-of-State Cybersecurity Plan that will be used to implement $23. 5 million of funding from the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program and the Minnesota Legislature.

All state and local government entities are eligible to participate in the SLCGP, including: A county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments, regional or interstate government entity, or agency or instrumentality of a local government. Authorized Tribal governments and organizations.

A rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity. Visit MNIT’s website for more information about the plan , how to participate , and who to contact if you have questions or need help. If your organization is ready to get started, complete the Minnesota Whole-of-State survey for SLCGP participants .

Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Program Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is accepting requests for technical assistance for the Thriving Communities technical assistance program. This funding will help local governments ensure housing needs are considered as part of their infrastructure plans.

To be eligible, jurisdictions must be a unit of general local government that is receiving federal transportation funding to support a project that coordinates transportation and housing plans, programs, or investments to benefit residents and businesses located in a disadvantaged community.

Priority will be given to jurisdictions with populations of less than 250,000 people, as well as to those receiving certain Department of Transportation competitive funds. Requests will be reviewed as they are received, on a rolling basis, beginning on March 15.

Learn more about the interagency Thriving Communities technical assistance program Residential Retrofits for Energy Equity: Energy Upgrades for Affordable Housing Residential Retrofits for Energy Equity (R2E2) will provide deep technical assistance to state, local, and tribal governments as well as community-based organizations to jumpstart energy upgrades for single family and multifamily affordable housing, especially in frontline communities.

These retrofits will lower utility bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve residents’ health, create good-paying local jobs, and help mitigate racial inequity.

R2E2 will kick off with training sessions in January for state, local, and community teams on scaling up building energy retrofits and leveraging the unprecedented federal funding available from COVID-19 relief programs, the bipartisan infrastructure law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and other sources.

R2E2 is a partnership of the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Elevate, Emerald Cities Collaborative, and HR&A Advisors, with People’s Climate Innovation Center advising on centering equity in the project and its outcomes and on facilitating community-driven planning processes.

Learn more about Residential Retrofits for Energy Equity Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program for Rural Areas Low-interest direct loans, grants, or a combination of the two are available to develop essential community facilities (not including private, commercial, or business undertakings) in rural areas through the Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant program.

The program is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development. Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and/or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment, and pay related project expenses. Rural areas, including cities, villages, townships, and federally recognized tribal lands, with no more than 20,000 residents according to the latest U.S. Census data , are eligible for this program.

Applications for this program are accepted year-round. Learn more about the Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant program Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program provides $10,000 in startup funding for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to implement the Community Heart & Soul model.

Community Heart & Soul engages a motivated and dedicated group of individuals to help your town identify what matters most. The grant program is specifically designed for small cities and towns with populations of 2,500 to 30,000. Grant funding requires a $10,000 cash match from the participating municipality or a partnering organization.

Learn more and apply for a Community Heart & Soul Grant Research Department staff members are ready to help you apply their broad knowledge to the issues you're dealing with today. Access online form to submit a question , or call us: (651) 281-1200 or (800) 925-1122