Opportunity Information: Apply for FR 6400 N 03
The HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designed for smaller communities that are actively working to revive a traditional downtown or historic "Main Street" area. The core idea is to strengthen central business districts by converting underused or outdated commercial space in existing buildings into affordable housing. Instead of funding large-scale redevelopment or new commercial construction, the program targets practical, building-level reuse that brings residents back into the downtown core, supports local businesses through increased foot traffic, and helps preserve the character of older or historic Main Street properties.
The program has four main objectives that guide what HUD wants applicants to accomplish. First, it aims to redevelop central business districts by turning empty or obsolete spaces into productive community assets. Second, it emphasizes preservation by encouraging renovation and adaptive reuse of historic or traditional Main Street buildings, rather than demolition or major alteration that would erase architectural character. Third, it is meant to complement local economic development efforts, recognizing that adding housing downtown can stabilize property values, reduce vacancy, and create a more active street environment that benefits nearby small businesses. Fourth, it directly increases the supply of affordable housing within Main Street areas, placing units in walkable locations near services, jobs, and community amenities.
Grant funds under this program can be used in a few specific ways tied to housing creation. Communities can build new affordable housing or, more commonly, reconfigure obsolete or surplus commercial space into affordable housing units. The program also allows conversion of extremely substandard, vacant housing into affordable units, aligning with the overall focus on reuse and rehabilitation. What the funding cannot be used for is just as important: it does not support general infrastructure improvements (such as broad street, utility, or public works projects) and it is not intended for commercial development. In other words, the money is for housing-focused redevelopment within Main Street buildings, not for downtown infrastructure packages or business expansion projects.
Affordability is a required condition for the housing units created. The units must be affordable to the initial residents who move into the Main Street housing project, following the program's use restrictions described in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). This requirement is central to the program's purpose: it is not simply about filling vacant buildings, but about ensuring that the resulting housing serves households that need affordable options, at least for the initial occupancy period as defined by HUD's rules.
Eligibility is limited to units of local government that already have Main Street rejuvenation efforts underway and that meet specific population and public housing unit limits referenced in the NOFA's eligibility section. The eligible applicant types listed include county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments. This reflects HUD's intent to focus the program on smaller jurisdictions with a manageable scale of redevelopment and a clear, existing commitment to revitalizing their downtown area.
In this particular funding notice, the opportunity is identified as "HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program" (Funding Opportunity Number FR 6400 N 03) under CFDA 14.878. It was posted by HUD on October 29, 2020, with an application deadline of January 19, 2021 at 11:59:59 pm Eastern Standard Time. The award ceiling was $500,000 per grant, and HUD expected to make about two awards. Overall, the program is structured as a targeted tool to help small communities convert empty Main Street spaces into affordable homes while preserving downtown character and reinforcing local revitalization plans.Apply for FR 6400 N 03
- The US Department of Housing and Urban Development in the housing, opportunity zone benefits sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 14.878.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 29, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 19, 2021 The application deadline is 115959 pm Eastern Standard time on. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments.
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HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program FAQs
What is the HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program?
The HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) focused on helping smaller communities revive a traditional downtown or historic "Main Street" area by creating affordable housing in existing Main Street buildings.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to strengthen central business districts by converting underused or outdated commercial space in existing buildings into affordable housing, bringing residents back downtown, supporting local businesses through increased foot traffic, and helping preserve the character of older or historic Main Street properties.
What types of communities is this program intended to serve?
This program is intended for smaller jurisdictions that already have Main Street rejuvenation efforts underway and that meet the specific population and public housing unit limits referenced in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).
What are the program's main objectives?
HUD describes four primary objectives: (1) redevelop central business districts by turning empty or obsolete spaces into productive community assets; (2) encourage preservation through renovation and adaptive reuse of historic or traditional Main Street buildings; (3) complement local economic development by adding downtown housing that can stabilize property values, reduce vacancy, and support small businesses; and (4) increase the supply of affordable housing in walkable Main Street locations near services, jobs, and amenities.
What kinds of projects can be funded?
Grant funds can be used to create affordable housing, including building new affordable housing or (more commonly) reconfiguring obsolete or surplus commercial space into affordable housing units within existing buildings.
Can the grant be used to convert vacant or severely distressed housing?
Yes. The program allows the conversion of extremely substandard, vacant housing into affordable units, consistent with its focus on reuse and rehabilitation.
Does the program focus on rehabilitation and adaptive reuse rather than demolition?
Yes. A core emphasis is on preserving and renovating historic or traditional Main Street buildings through adaptive reuse, rather than demolition or major alteration that would erase architectural character.
Can funds be used for general downtown infrastructure improvements?
No. The funding does not support general infrastructure improvements such as broad street, utility, or public works projects.
Can funds be used for commercial development or business expansion?
No. The program is not intended for commercial development. The funds are for housing-focused redevelopment within Main Street buildings, not for business expansion projects.
Is affordability required for the housing units created?
Yes. Affordability is a required condition. The units must be affordable to the initial residents who move into the Main Street housing project, following the program use restrictions described in the NOFA.
Does the affordability requirement apply to initial residents?
Yes. The information provided specifies that units must be affordable to the initial residents, consistent with HUD's rules and the use restrictions described in the NOFA.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to units of local government with existing Main Street rejuvenation efforts and that meet the population and public housing unit limits in the NOFA. Eligible applicant types listed include county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments.
Which federal agency administers this grant opportunity?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FR 6400 N 03.
What is the CFDA number for the program?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 14.878.
When was this funding opportunity posted?
The notice was posted on October 29, 2020.
What was the application deadline for this funding notice?
The application deadline was January 19, 2021 at 11:59:59 pm Eastern Standard Time.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $500,000 per grant.
How many awards was HUD expecting to make?
HUD expected to make about two awards under this particular funding notice.
Is this program intended for large-scale redevelopment or new commercial construction?
No. The program does not focus on large-scale redevelopment or new commercial construction. It targets practical, building-level reuse that converts existing, underused spaces into affordable housing in the downtown core.
How does adding housing downtown support local economic development?
HUD recognizes that adding housing downtown can stabilize property values, reduce vacancy, and create a more active street environment that benefits nearby small businesses through increased activity and foot traffic.
Why does the program emphasize Main Street locations specifically?
The program is focused on placing affordable housing in walkable Main Street areas near services, jobs, and community amenities, while also reinforcing traditional downtown revitalization and preservation goals.
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