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Planning Grants

Overview

The Planning Grant Program leverages Community Development Block Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to encourage communities to plan for long-term, holistic improvement.

Program components

To be competitive, projects must demonstrate:

  • They meet a goal of the Federal Act (Section 105 (a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974)
  • The particular planning project addresses established long-term community priorities;
  • The funds granted will have a significant impact on the overall project;
  • The community has demonstrated a strong commitment to the project and its sustainability; and
  • The project is ready to proceed upon grant award and will be completed within 12 months.

Current Funding Quarter

Find the 2025 Q2 Application Instructions here.

Applications will be accepted until May 16, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET via the Indiana Electronic Grants Management System. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications prior to 4 p.m. ET on May 16, 2025, as technical assistance will not be available after that time.

Maximum Grant Amounts and Local Match

The maximum award is dependent on the type of planning grant. However, the maximum award is not intended to serve as a target figured for requests for grant assistance. OCRA will review the level of grant assistance requested and  will consider the appropriateness of the project's scope, the level of demonstrated need, and the financial resources of the applicant. If OCRA determines that a lesser amount is appropriate, it may be necessary to revise the project before it is submitted in the final for. A minimum local match of 10% of the total project cost will be required for funding consideration.

For questions regarding planning projects, contact you local OCRA community liaison, found here, or email CDBG@ocra.in.gov.

For any questions regarding Planning Grants, please contact CDBG@ocra.in.gov.

Utility Study Plans provide a summary of potential issues and opportunities across drinking, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. By completing this planning, communities will be able to make decisions regarding their most urgent water needs while understanding how each system works in context with other utility systems.

All utilities controlled by the community must be included in the study.

  • For a two-utility study, the maximum grant amount is $60,000.
  • For a three-utility study (covering drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater), the maximum grant amount is $90,000.

Each plan funded by the Planning Grant Program must meet a set of minimum requirements according to the plan type. Each Utility Study Plan must meet OCRA's minimum planning requirements.

*Note: All utilities controlled by the community must be covered by the study.

*For questions regarding water infrastructure planning, please contact your local OCRA community liaison, found here.

Comprehensive Planning Grants are designed to aid communities in evaluating assets and identifying opportunities to address current needs in the following areas: land use, government capacity, public services, placemaking, economic development, housing, transportation, agriculture, natural resources, broadband access, and historic resources.

Funding awarded for Comprehensive Plans is determined based on the size of the community.

  • Applicants with a population over 10,000 may request up to $60,000.
  • Applicants with a population under 10,000 may request up to $50,000.

Each plan funded by the Planning Grant Program must meet a set of minimum requirements according to the plan type. Each Comprehensive Plan must meet OCRA's minimum planning requirements.

Broadband Readiness Plans may be created for the community level or regional level.

  • Plans for a single community may request up to $50,000.
  • Plans for regional applicants may request up to $70,000.

Each plan funded by the Planning Grant Program must meet a set of minimum requirements according to the plan type. Each Broadband Readiness Plan must meet OCRA's minimum planning requirements.

Funding for Downtown Revitalization Plans is determined based on the size of the community.

  • Applicants with a population over 2,000 may request up to $40,000.
  • Applicants with a population under 2,000 may request up to $30,000.

Each plan funded by the Planning Grant Program must meet a set of minimum requirements according to the plan type. Each Downtown Revitalization Plan must meet OCRA's minimum planning requirements.

Communities applying for an Economic Development Plan may request up to $40,000.

Each plan funded by the Planning Grant Program must meet a set of minimum requirements according to the plan type. Each Economic Development Plan must meet OCRA's minimum planning requirements.

Communities may request up to $50,000 for a COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.

Each plan funded by the Planning Grant Program must meet a set of minimum requirements according to the plan type. Each COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan must meet OCRA's minimum planning requirements.

An Environmental Assessment Plan can aid a community in examining potential environmental impacts and considerations for proposed projects. It can also help identify and mitigate any negative consequences of a project on air and water quality, biodiversity, land use, and societal impacts. Communities applying for an Environmental Assessment may request up to $20,000.

Each plan funded by the Planning Grant Program must meet a set of minimum requirements according to the plan type. Each Environmental Assessment Plan must meet OCRA's minimum planning requirements.

Communities may request up to $20,000 for a Historic Preservation Plan.

Each plan funded by the Planning Grant Program must meet a set of minimum requirements according to the plan type. Each Historic Preservation Plan must meet OCRA's minimum planning requirements.

Feasibility Studies aid communities in assessing public facilities' existing conditions, needs, vision for future state and use of the facility to operationalize and implement options from the plan. Eligible facilities include fire stations, senior centers, libraries, childcare centers, community centers, facilities for special needs groups, youth centers, and museums and performance spaces that open doors to knowledge and ideas, culture, and enjoyment.

Communities applying for a Feasibility Study may request up to $20,000.

Each plan funded by the Planning Grant Program must meet a set of minimum requirements according to the plan type. Each Feasibility Study must meet OCRA's minimum planning requirements.