Planning Grants

Planning Grants Community Development Block Grants Current: Planning Grants Overview The Planning Grant Program leverages Community Development Block Grant funding from the 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 Cycle Find the 2026 Cycle 1 Planning Grant Application Instructions here . Applications will be accepted from Jan. 29 until Sunday, March 1, at 11:59  ET via the  Indiana Electronic Grants Management System . Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications prior to 3   ET on Feb. 27, 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 8% 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 [email protected] . Utility Study Plans Comprehensive Plans Broadband Readiness Plans Downtown Revitalization Plans Economic Development Plans COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plans Environmental Assessment Plans Historic Preservation Plans Feasibility Studies Utility Study Plans provide a summary of potential issues and opportunities across 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 single utility study, the maximum grant amount is $30,000. For a two-utility study, the maximum grant amount is $60,000. For a three-utility study (covering drinking 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 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.