Community Economic Development Projects
🏛 Administration for Children and Families - OCS
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations working to strengthen economic opportunity in disadvantaged communities. Eligible applicants typically include nonprofits, tribal organizations, government agencies, and community development corporations. The grant supports projects that build community wealth, improve economic stability, and create pathways to self-sufficiency.
Projects must serve low-income individuals and families. Geographic focus includes rural areas, urban neighborhoods, tribal lands, and regions with high poverty rates. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to manage federal funds and show community need.
Funded activities include job training, microenterprise development, financial literacy, asset-building programs, and economic infrastructure. Projects should address root causes of poverty through sustainable, community-driven solutions.
Key dates
- May 5, 2026 Applications open
- Jul 17, 2026 Application deadline in 34 days
- Aug 14, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 30, 2026 Project start
Program description
The Office of Community Services (OCS) will award approximately $18.57 million in Community Economic Development (CED) discretionary funds to Community Development Corporations (CDC) to enhance job creation and business development for individuals with low income. Projects should be well-planned, financially viable, and innovative. CED awards will be made as part of a broader strategy to address objectives such as decreasing dependency on federal programs, chronic unemployment, and community deterioration in urban and rural areas. CED projects are expected to actively recruit individuals with low incomes to fill the positions created by CED-funded development activities, to assist those individuals in successfully maintaining employment, and to ensure that the businesses and jobs created remain viable for at least one year after the project period. CED projects can be non-construction or construction projects. In states with current projects, OCS encourages applicants to target rural and underserved areas.
Furthermore, OCS encourages potential applicants to explore how proposed projects can be aligned and/or integrated with other OCS-funded programs and priorities to more comprehensively address the needs of rural and urban communities with high rates of poverty, unemployment, and substance-use disorder, as well as communities experiencing persistent poverty, as identified by US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational Capacity Documentation
- Community Needs Assessment
- Evaluation Plan
- Letters of Support from Partners
Program contact
- 👤 Olivia Barfield
- 📧 Olivia.Barfield@acf.hhs.gov
- 📞 (202) 545-4904
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.570 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$6,375,959
-
$6,375,959
-
$6,375,959
-
$6,375,959
-
$6,375,959
-
$6,375,959
-
$6,375,959
-
$6,375,959
-
$1,950,000
-
$1,950,000
Top States by Funding
- CA 19 awards $21.6M
- OH 7 awards $12.9M
- AZ 7 awards $12.9M
- MA 3 awards $8.6M
- TN 3 awards $8.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.570). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $29,059,276 | |
| 2025 | $29,800,829 | |
| 2026 est. | $29,800,829 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Nonprofits, tribal organizations, government agencies, and community development entities can apply. You must have 501(c)(3) status or be a government entity.
What types of projects does this grant fund?
Job training, microenterprise development, financial literacy, savings programs, and workforce development. Projects must serve low-income populations and build long-term economic stability.
What is the application timeline?
The application opens May 5, 2026. Check the full solicitation for the deadline date and any rolling submission options.
How competitive is this funding?
This is typically competitive. Strong proposals demonstrate community partnerships, clear outcomes, and alignment with federal economic development priorities.
What is the typical funding amount?
Awards vary based on project scope and need. Review the solicitation for funding caps and whether grants are single-year or multi-year.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start with strong community partnerships showing local buy-in and sustainability beyond the grant period.
- Clearly connect your project to specific economic barriers in your target population and show how activities address root causes.
- Develop measurable outcomes focused on employment, income, assets, or self-sufficiency gains that federal reviewers can track.
- Budget realistically and include staff capacity to manage federal reporting requirements and grant compliance.
- Demonstrate organizational fiscal stability and past experience managing similar-sized grants or community projects.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Vague outcome metrics that don't show clear economic mobility gains. Weak partnerships or unclear community support for the proposed project. Insufficient detail on how activities will reach and retain low-income participants.
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