Grant Programs

Community Development Grants

The Development District provides technical assistance in the preparation, submission, and administration of various federal and state grant programs for our local governments. These grants are cyclical and certain eligibility requirements must be met.


ARC -
Provides funding to local governments for community facilities, industrial development, highways, asset based, higher education initiatives, and infrastructure. Priority given to distressed counties. Pre-application deadline: November 1. Local match based on county ARC status. Polk County 50% match. http://www.state.tn.us/ecd/arc.htm and http://www.arc.gov/

ARTS - SETDD is a designated agency for the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Arts Build Communities Grant funds in Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea, and Sequatchie Counties. Funding range is from $500 to $3,000. Non-profit and government agencies are eligible to apply.  Applications are typically due early September.  Grant guidelines and application forms are available at http://www.arts.state.tn.us/grant_categories.htm. For more information about the program, contact Cindy Milligan at 423-424-4267 or cmilligan@sedev.org.

CDBG - Provides funding to local governments for water and wastewater projects, housing rehabilitation projects, and community livability including fire protection and emergency service projects. Funding limit $300,000 for community livability and $500,000 all other categories. Local match required varies by government. Deadline Feb. 28, 2007. Local governments are only eligible for one project at a time. http://www.state.tn.us/ecd/cdbg.htm

FEMA FIRE - Provides fire fighting equipment and training materials to local career and volunteer fire companies. http://www.usfa.fema.gov/

HISTORIC PRESERVATION - Five sources of funding are available for preservation-related projects, including the Tennessee Historical Commission, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the National Park Service, and the Tennessee State Library and Archives. For more information, contact Paul Archambault parcham@sedev.org or 423-424-4266.

HOME - Provides assistance to low-income families in qualifying counties and municipalities to bring substandard housing up to standard code requirements. No local match required. The need points awarded to each county in a region rotate based on length of time since last funded project. Each county ranks high enough for funding every 3 to 4 years. $500,000 max. http://www.state.tn.us/thda/

LPRF - Local Parks and Recreation Fund grants are one of several sources of recreation enhancement funding provided by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. TDEC accepts applications every other year. Next grant cycle is projected for spring 2008. 50% match required. Local governments are advised to have a Comprehensive Recreation Plan and meet Recreation Planning Benchmarks prior to application.  http://www.state.tn.us/environment/recreation/

ROADSCAPES - Develop landscaping projects along state and federally maintained right-of-ways. Administered by TDOT. Expected application deadline – September.

RTP - Recreation Trails Program awards grants to local, state, and federal governments to develop trails and trail facilities. TDEC accepts applications every other year. Next grant cycle is projected for spring 2008. Projects require a 20% match.

SIGN - Municipalities with population under 5,000 and counties under 30,000 are eligible for sign grants from TDOT.  Funds were awarded in October. Submittal date varies.

SOLID WASTE - The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Solid Waste Management provides grants to local governments for recycling equipment and used tire processing. Submittal dates vary considerably. For more information, contact Gary Sexton gsexton@sedev.org or 423-424-4261. http://www.state.tn.us/environment/dca

TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT - Provides funding for transportation enhancement projects to local governments.  80% Grant-20% Local match. Deadline November 1. http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/local/grants.htm