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Outdoor Heritage Fund Grants
The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council is accepting applications for Outdoor Heritage Fund Grants, and estimates that more than $150 million is available to support habitat work.
Eligibility for these grants includes local units of government, nonprofit organizations, watershed districts, etc. The key is that the monies are dedicated for use in projects that “protect, restore, and enhance habitat for fish, game, and wildlife.”
Applications are due May 23.
Learn more and apply for Outdoor Heritage funds.
Fiscal Year 2026 Cultural Expression Grants
Application materials are now available for the Cultural Expression grant program. Cultural Expression provides project grants to support activities that share, explore, pass on, express, or celebrate culture through the arts. Culture may be defined by a common ethnicity, tribal affiliation, geographic or regional identity, or language. Traditional and contemporary forms of cultural expression may be funded in this program. Funds could be used to support practicing a cultural art form; presenting cultural festivals, community celebrations, performances, media or exhibitions; offering demonstrations, etc. Funds could also be used to deepen or pass on cultural traditions through apprenticeships or documentation.
Applicants may request between $5,000 – $35,000. Details, including full program guidelines, eligibility, and resources for applicants can be found on the Cultural Expression program page. The application deadline is June 6.
Greater Minnesota Small Cities (Tier II Cities) Housing Aid Grant Program
The Greater Minnesota Small Cities (Tier II Cities) Housing Aid Grant Program is a new program funded by the 2023 legislative session as part of the Statewide Affordable Housing Aid program. The program was established to aid smaller Greater Minnesota cities outside the seven-county metro area with fewer than 10,000 people to develop and preserve affordable housing within their jurisdictions.
The Greater Minnesota Small Cities (Tier II Cities) Housing Aid Grant Program RFP application and supplemental documents are available on the Local Government Housing Programs webpage. The application must be completed via the Cvent survey tool and will close on April 24, 2025. For additional details on the program, read the program guide (pdf).
Learn more about the other local government housing programs.
Greater Minnesota Housing Infrastructure Grants
There is $8 million available for the Greater Minnesota Housing Infrastructure Grants to support cities, counties, and tribal nations in creating sites for workforce and affordable housing in Greater Minnesota.
Grant funds can be used to cover up to 50% of capital costs of physical public infrastructure necessary to support a qualifying housing development. This may include sewers, water supply systems, utility extensions, streets and more, necessary to support single-family, multifamily, homeownership and rental housing development.
Grants are generally limited to:
- $40,000 per lot for one to four units.
- $180,000 per lot for multifamily housing (five or more units/building).
- $60,000 per manufactured housing lot.
- No more than $500,000 to any grantee or project over a two-year period.
Applicants’ matching funds may include in-kind contributions, such as donation of land.
For additional details on the program, please review the program guide.
Learn more and apply for Greater Minnesota Housing Infrastructure Grants.
Arts Experiences Grant Program
Arts Experiences through the Minnesota State Arts Board provides project grants that individuals and organizations, including local governments, can use to offer arts activities that are meaningful for Minnesota residents and communities. Funds may be used for a variety of arts projects such as creating and/or presenting concerts, plays, tours, exhibitions, arts festivals, public art, or other kinds of arts programming that engages Minnesota audiences and participants.
Applicants may request between $5,000-$35,000. The deadline to apply is May 2.
Potential applicants are encouraged to review all application materials and resources on the program page before beginning an application.
Learn more and apply for an Arts Experiences grant.
Minnesota SolarAPP+ Solar Permitting Software Incentive
The Minnesota Department of Commerce Division of Energy Resources requests applications for the SolarAPP+ Solar Permitting Software Incentive Program. The purpose of this program is to provide technical assistance and financial incentives to local units of government that issue permits for residential solar projects and solar plus energy storage systems by incentivizing a permitting authority to adopt the SolarAPP+ software to standardize, automate, and streamline the review and permitting process.
The Department of Commerce will administer $2 million in incentives to eligible jurisdictions across Minnesota, with incentives ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. Eligible applicants include local units of governments with authority to issue permits for residential solar projects and solar plus energy storage system projects.
Applications must be submitted through the grant interface website, Minnesota Department of Commerce’s online grant interface website. The Request for Proposals (RFP) will have detailed information and application questions as well as required forms and reference materials. It will be available for download on the Department’s RFP website beginning Feb. 28 and remain available until June 30, 2028, or until fully expended. Instructions for submitting applications are detailed in the RFP.
Learn more and apply for the SolarAPP+ Solar Permitting Incentive 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.
Businesses that are the current focus of the Minnesota OSHA Workplace Safety Consultation strategic plan will be given added priority. If your grant is approved, you will be notified in writing of the specific approval. Whether we approve your grant application or not, in no way diminishes, delays, or absolves you of any obligation to abate safety and health hazards. When a project is complete, the applicant must submit a certificate of completion form, with invoices and proof of payment, to the grants administrator, to initiate issuance of the grant. An employer that has received a grant for a particular worksite will not be eligible to receive another grant for that worksite during the two years after the date of their award.
Learn more and apply to the MNOSHA WSC: Safety Grant Program.
Solar on Public Buildings Grant Program
The Solar on Public Buildings Grant Program will equip cities, towns, counties, and other local governments and Tribal Nations to lower utilities costs, increase energy independence, expand the clean energy workforce, and take essential action to address climate change.
$4.3 million in state funding will be distributed to local governments to build solar arrays (system size up to 40 kilowatts) across Xcel Energy territory in Minnesota. These grants can be paired with federal clean energy tax credits now available to local governments.
Learn more and apply for Solar on Public Buildings Grant Program funding.
Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) provides loan and grant funding to deliver energy efficiency and electrification improvements to HUD-assisted housing, which can fund retrofitting properties up to $40,000-$80,000 per unit. HUD is accepting applications on a rolling basis, two will be occurring in 2024. Funded under the Inflation Reduction Act, the GRRP is the first HUD program to invest simultaneously in energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, energy generation, and climate resilience strategies specifically in HUD-assisted multifamily housing.
Learn more and apply for GRRP funding.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Technical Assistance Grants
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) IIJA Technical Assistance Grant Program is now open. $2 Million in state funds is available to qualifying local units of government and tribal governments that seek to submit an application for a federal discretionary grant for a transportation purposes.
State technical assistance funds can be used to hire a consultant for identification of available grants, grant writing, analysis, data collection, technical review, legal interpretations, planning, pre-engineering, application finalization, and similar activities. Learn more and apply for an IIJA Technical Assistance Grant.
Learn more and apply for a IIJA Technical Assistance grant.
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.
Eligibility
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.
How to get involved
- Visit MNIT’s website for more information about the plan, how to participate, and who to contact if you have questions or need help.
- You can also sign up to receive news and updates about the Whole-of-Security Plan and the SLCGP.
- 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.
