Guidance  FY27 Community Planning Grant Program Guidelines

Date:	01/23/2026
Organization:	Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities

Program Information and these Guidelines have been developed for applicants to the FY27 Community Planning Grant Program (CP). The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) may issue additional guidance, clarification, or revisions which shall be incorporated by reference into these Guidelines. This document is intended to clarify, interpret, and explain existing program requirements, and to provide guidance on EOHLC’s applicant selection process. It is not intended to be exhaustive.

FY27 Community Planning Grant Program Overview

The Community Planning Grant Program (CP) awards funds that may be used for a variety of activities related to community planning, such as a community plan, zoning revision, or planning for housing. As planning and zoning grants, funds must support direct community engagement efforts to involve community members in the planning process and/or produce planning or zoning document(s) and/or related materials in draft, phased, or final product form.

Maximum Award

The CP awards a maximum grant of $150,000 to single applicants. Funding over this maximum will only be considered for joint and regional applications on a case-by-case basis, at EOHLC’s discretion, based on project need, outcomes, impact, and scope of engagement plan and implementation. Applicants are encouraged to conduct due diligence to determine accurate estimates of project costs to better understand actual costs of the proposed project.

• While a local cash match is not required, a match will factor into HLC’s applicant selection process. Projects that include at least a 10% cash match will receive bonus points in the application review. Note that staff time is not considered a “cash match.”

EOHLC reserves the right to reduce the amount of the award from the original request, and to deny an award to applicants with existing or past violations of EOHLC contractual obligations. Funding availability is subject to the final state budget and capital investment plan.

Project Examples

Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to:

1. Planning for housing at specific parcel(s), including feasibility analyses, master plans, site plans, market assessments, and other parcel(s) specific planning projects.
2. Conducting pre-development site master planning on an underutilized commercial property with the intent to create mixed-use that includes affordable housing.
3. Creation of a Housing Production Plan to better understand community housing needs and identify strategies to reduce barriers to housing production.
4. Creation or expansion of a zoning district consistent with the requirements of M.G.L. Chapter 40A, Section 3A, or amendments to an existing district to increase housing potential for multi-family housing development.
5. Review of current zoning to identify and remove language that excludes certain housing types.
6. Development of 40R/40Y Smart Growth or Starter Home districts.
7. Development of a new Urban Renewal Plan or identification of additional parcels to incorporate into an existing Urban Renewal Plan.
8. Review of zoning ordinances, creation of a plan to update zoning rules to unlock potential housing production, and implementation of strategies defined in a Housing Production Plan or other municipal plan.

Eligibility & Use of Funds

Eligible Applicants

All Massachusetts municipalities, federally and state recognized Tribes, and Regional Planning Agencies are eligible for consideration of an FY27 CP grant. Applications may be submitted by:

• A single applicant,
• Two or more eligible applicants in a joint application with one lead entity, or
• A regional entity.

Other public entities and private firms, such as but not limited to Redevelopment Authorities, Economic Development Industrial Corporations, Water and Sewer Districts, other bodies created by legislative act to serve a municipality, and home builders, are ineligible to apply as the lead applicant. Ineligible entities must apply in partnership with an eligible entity.

Housing Moratoria or Restrictive Bylaws

Municipalities with adopted housing moratoria or other restrictive bylaws that do not allow for at least a 5% increase in housing production over a single year are ineligible. Email McKenzie Bell, Senior Community Grants Coordinator, at [e-mail] with questions about this eligibility factor.

MBTA Community Compliance

Municipalities that are MBTA Communities that EOHLC has determined to be noncompliant under Section 3A of the Zoning Act (MGL c.40A) and corresponding regulations for Multi-Family Zoning Districts (760 CMR 72.00) are ineligible for this grant program for all activities other than to fund efforts to become compliant with MGL c.40A, Section 3A.

Use of Funds

Funding is available through the “Planning and Zoning” and “Site Preparation” categories of the Community One Stop for Growth development continuum. Grants will fund a variety of activities related to:

• Community planning, including but not limited to a Master Plan, Neighborhood/Downtown/Corridor Plan, Urban Renewal Plan, Housing Production Plan, Housing Plan alignment with State Housing Plan/regional goals, and Regional Plan;
• Zoning revisions, including but not limited to Zoning Revision related to Accessory Dwelling Unit to comply with revisions to MGL c.40A Section 3, Zoning Revision to Comply with Section 3A of MGL c.40A, Zoning Revision to adopt pro-housing revisions that qualify for simple majority voting threshold, and Comprehensive Zoning Review & Revision; or
• Planning for housing, including but not limited to a Housing Feasibility Plan, Infrastructure Plan, Housing Site Master Plan, and Housing Site Design Plan.

Grant funds shall not be used to support:

1. Any activities related to assertion of the General Land Area Minimum (GLAM) (1.5% of total land area) safe harbor under 760 CMR 56.03(b)(Chapter 40B);
2. Routine administrative tasks of municipal staff, including, but not limited to, grant application preparation, procurement, or grant administration;
3. Parking and parking garage studies and plans; or
4. Planning for municipally owned buildings.

Timeline of Funds

FY27 grants are expected to be awarded in the fall of 2026. As a two-fiscal year grant, FY27 funded projects must be completed by June 30, 2028.

Grant Application

Full Application

The Community Planning Grant Program is part of the Community One Stop for Growth (COSG), a single application portal and collaborative review process of community and economic development grant programs that make targeted investments based on a Development Continuum.

The Full Application is organized into the following sections:

• Form 1 – Applicant Information
• Form 2 – Project Information
• Form 3 – Certification of Application Submission Authority

To be considered for funding through the COSG, applicants must include complete responses to all required questions.

Application Review

EOHLC reserves the right to request additional information from the applicant or external sources as may be necessary to complete the application review. EOHLC also reserves the right to recommend partial grant awards, as deemed appropriate. Full Applications will be scored for the responsiveness to the following criteria:

• Project Need: What community and housing needs are met by the project? Evaluation will consider factors such as impact on housing development, preservation, and/or rehabilitation; impact on other municipally identified needs; and advancing opportunities for target populations.
• Project Readiness: Is the project scope reasonable and achievable within the proposed timeline? Evaluation will consider factors such as timeline feasibility and scope; identified leadership with experience and ability to execute the project; implementation readiness; and inclusion of a comprehensive public engagement plan.
• Project Financial Feasibility: Is the project’s budget reasonable? Evaluation will consider factors such as whether the project is fully or partially funded; reasonableness of cost estimate; and inclusion of cash match(es). In-kind contributions are not match-eligible.
• Progress & Commitment to Date: Does the applicant show commitment to the project through past activity and investment? Evaluation will consider factors such as progress to date; prior state/federal funding; and zoning or local by-law changes related to the project.
• Project Outcomes & Impact: What are the projected outcomes of this project and the impact this project may have on the community? Evaluation will consider factors such as impact of the project relative to the community and responsiveness to identified need; tangible housing outcomes; community engagement plan; and implementation strategies.

Evaluation will also consider the following factors:

• Past performance with all prior EOHLC capital grants and capital grant contracts;
• Regional/geographic diversity of awardees;
• Whether an applicant is a first-time EOHLC capital grants recipient;
• Prior EOHLC support or investment;
• Successful implementation of a prior EOHLC capital grant;
• Environmental resiliency; and
• Alignment with Secretariat priorities.

Grant Award

Award of Funds and Grant Contract

Successful applicants must be ready to enter into a contract with EOHLC within 30 days after receiving contract documents. Funding is subject to approval of the EOHLC operating and capital budgets. Grant projects may begin as of the execution of the contract. If selected, an awardee will be required to submit the following forms to complete a contract:

• Commonwealth Standard Contract Form, filled out and e-signed by the Awardee
• Commonwealth Scope and Budget Form (available from EOHLC)
• Completed Contractor Authorized Signature Listing Form (available from EOHLC)
• Completed Budget and Fiscal Exercise Form (available from EOHLC)

Grant Distribution and Invoicing

Granted funds will be disbursed on a cost reimbursement basis. Only work completed during the period of the executed contract will be eligible for reimbursement. Upon receipt of all required deliverables, the grantee will be reimbursed for the balance of outstanding grant funds.