Community Planning Grant Program

Competitive grant program open to all Massachusetts municipalities, Regional Planning Agencies, and municipal entities. Grants will fund professional services to complete variety of activities related to community planning.

Filipe Zamborlini, Community Grants Coordinator, Community Services Division

The Details of Community Planning Grant Program

What you need for Community Planning Grant Program

The Community Planning Grant Program provides funding for technical assistance for Community Planning projects. This competitive grant program awards funds based on the community planning or zoning project’s nexus with housing, transportation, infrastructure, economic development, and community development including funding for MBTA Communities seeking compliance with draft guidelines for M.G.L. Chapter 40A, Section 3A. Eligible Housing Choice and Rural and Small Town designated communities are also eligible for Community Planning grants funded through those respective grant programs, please review those program guidelines for more information. See the program guidelines below for a full description of the Community Planning Grant Program.

Guidelines and Application Template

Lieutenant Governor Driscoll recently announced additional funds available for planning for housing in the Community Planning Grant Program in the 2023 round of the Community One Stop for Growth. Please be sure to review the FY24 Community Planning Grant Program Notice of Additional Funds & Guideline and the Planning for Housing FAQ to learn more about these one-time additional funds.

Please review the FY24 Community Planning Grant Program Guidelines and the FY24 One Stop Full Application - Community Planning Template prior to submitting a full application.

How to apply Community Planning Grant Program

This program is part of the Community One Stop for Growth, a single application portal and collaborative review process of community and economic development grant programs that make targeted investments based on a Development Continuum. This process streamlines the experience for the applicant and better coordinates programs and staff on engagement and grant making. It also reorients the State from a passive reviewer of funding requests to an active partner in economic development strategy, priorities, and investment. Access to this program is exclusively available through the One Stop. Learn more about the One Stop.

Next steps for Community Planning Grant Program

For Award Recipients

Community Planning Grant Program applicants who have received a Community Planning grant will find additional resources, including quarterly reports and invoice templates and tutorial and webinar recordings, in the Award Recipient Resources page.

More info for Community Planning Grant Program

Community Planning Awards

The Community Planning Grant Program has been assisting communities throughout the Commonwealth plan for their future since 2022 (FY22). Learn about the projects that have been awarded Community Planning Grants.

Guidelines and Application Template

For communities seeking consideration for recently announced additional funds for planning for housing in the Community Planning Grant Program in the 2023 round of the Community One Stop for Growth, please review the FY24 Community Planning Grant Program Notice of Additional Funds & Guideline and the Planning for Housing FAQ.

Please review the FY24 Community Planning Grant Program Guidelines and the FY24 One Stop Full Application - Community Planning Template prior to submitting a full application.

Downloads for Community Planning Grant Program

Contact for Community Planning Grant Program

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