Directing place-based development, redevelopment, and housing on downtown Main Streets is critical to a robust and active economy, local government fiscal health, and sustainable and strategic growth development patterns. Main Street LIVE will fund planning, design and engineering, and construction of Main Street public infrastructure and facilities as Livability Investments for Vibrant Economies. This $15 million infusion will reinvest in our core main street downtowns and enhance long-term sustainability, support the development of housing, and attract workforce to create a more vibrant and livable commercial core.
How to Apply
Applicants are required to contact their Regional Manager prior to submitting any application and must be “ready to go” in order to be accepted into an EIAF grant cycle. The Regional Manager will assist you in identifying additional funding sources and will provide technical assistance by engaging other state and local agencies to support your project.
Application opens on March 1, 2024 on the EIAF website.
All applications in this Initiative will follow the regularly planned cycles of the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund (EIAF) Program.
Funding
The purpose of the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Program is to assist political subdivisions that are socially and/or economically impacted by the development, processing, or energy conversion of minerals and mineral fuels.
- This initiative within the EIAF Program is available until funds are exhausted.
- Other state, federal, or local agencies’ funding (such as CDOT’s Revitalizing Main Streets grant program) are eligible for matching funds. Local facade grant programs can also be used as a match.
- Match requirements:
- Planning projects: 10%
- Infrastructure projects: 25%
- Maximum request is increased to $2M.
Eligible Projects
- The most competitive Main Street LIVE projects will have a strong contribution to affordable or attainable housing goals on Main Street, such as projects that increase residency with infill or above-storefront living spaces, remove barriers to downtown living, or improve infrastructure to enable affordable and attainable housing. All Main Street LIVE projects should improve the livability of a community and specifically on its Main Street commercial core.
- Planning projects may include strategic planning and inclusive engagement for Main Street development and will be more competitive if the planning supports affordable and workforce housing.
- Facility upgrades or construction will be more competitive projects which:
- Include a direct housing component,
- Meet the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and International Existing Building Code (IEBC) (as applicable),
- Include renewable energy sources (as applicable),
- Bring buildings up to code (electrical, plumbing, fire suppression, insulation, etc.), Include age-friendly amenities, and/or
- Improve the overall livability and vibrancy of Main Street.
- Facilities that include upgrades or construction must be owned by a political subdivision of the State to qualify for Main Street LIVE and awards cannot fund a privately owned asset.
- Infrastructure and streetscape: water, sewer, stormwater, energy, sidewalks, and streetscape or placemaking improvements (including, but not limited to, high efficiency street lights, benches, accessibility improvements, parklets, breezeway and alley activation improvements.)
- Investments in public buildings/facilities, gathering/event spaces, public restrooms, public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and downtown wayfinding as part of a broader streetscape project. Park and recreation amenities improvements must have a direct tie to livability on the downtown Main Street commercial core.
Ineligible Projects
- Constructing or paving parking lots or multi-floor, multi-modal downtown parking structures/multimodal hubs are not eligible.
- Grant funds spent on private property or private infrastructure are ineligible. However, local matching funds can be used to leverage resources (e.g., local facade improvement grants to businesses or grants to convert second stories to attainable, accessible housing).