COVID-19 Response Resources
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loan – U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on small businesses, Missouri has been granted a disaster declaration by the SBA. This makes low interest disaster loans available to small businesses and private non-profits severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for each affected small business or non-profit. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Program Expires: December 21, 2020.

  • Rural Relief Small Business Grants – LISC: LISC is supporting entrepreneurs across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their next opportunity for businesses in rural communities will open soon. Applicants may apply for one business only and must be 18 years of age to apply. Priority will be given especially to entrepreneurs of color, women- and veteran-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically under-served places who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital. Upcoming Rounds Open: December 29 and January 26.

  • Missouri Emergency Rental Arrears Program (ERAP) – Missouri Housing Development Commission: This program is intended to provide relief to property owners and tenants impacted by COVID-19 and prevent eviction of tenants for non-payment of rent. ERAP is offering assistance in the form of a one-time payment for up to six (6) months of past-due rent dating back to April 1, 2020 directly to landlords on behalf of qualified tenants. In exchange for this payment, landlords must agree not to file for eviction for non-payment for 120 days from the date of application submission as well as waive all fees and outstanding rent up to the date of application submission. Tenant households must be below 50% of the Area Median Income at the time of application. Open: January 2021.

  • Business and Industry CARES Act Guaranteed Loan Program – USDA: The Rural Business Cooperative Service (RBCS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces that in response to the national COVID–19 Public Health Emergency, USDA Rural Development was provided additional funding assistance of $20,500,000 in budget authority appropriated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). This program offers loan guarantees to lenders for their loans to rural businesses and agricultural producers to supplement their working capital to prevent, prepare for and respond to the economic impacts of the coronavirus. Lenders need the legal authority, financial strength and sufficient experience to operate a successful lending program. This includes federal and state-chartered banks, savings and loans, farm credit banks, and credit unions. For-profit businesses, nonprofits, cooperatives, federally-recognized tribes, and public bodies may qualify for these guaranteed loans. Deadline: September 15, 2021. 

  • Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund: A coalition of charitable, business and government partners has joined together to create the Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to address the needs of the Kansas City region's most vulnerable communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund provides grants to nonprofit organizations that have experience supporting impacted communities – particularly those that are disproportionately affected by this global pandemic and its economic consequences. This program is available for Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, and Ray counties in Missouri.

  • Small Business Relief Initiative - GoFundMe: GoFundMe has partnered with Yelp and Intuit QuickBooks to create a Small Business Relief Fund to help small businesses negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of these three companies has contributed $500,000 to the Fund, and it's receiving additional donations from the public. The fund will provide $500 grants to any small business that raises $500 on GoFundMe.

  • COVID-19 Nonprofit Response Fund – Community Foundation: This fund’s purpose is to support nonprofit organizations impacted by efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus, with a priority for those providing vital basic needs services and resources to disproportionately impacted individuals and families impacted by following public health recommendations. Grants may be made to nonprofit organizations, churches, schools, or units of government located in or significantly serving one or more of the following counties: Adams, Brown, Hancock & Pike in Illinois; and Clark, Knox, Lewis, Marion, Monroe, Pike, Ralls, and Shelby in Missouri. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Current Grant Opportunities
  • Community Connect Grant Program – USDA: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) agency of USDA has announced its Community Connect Grant Program application window for FY2021. The Community Connect Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide service at or above the Broadband Grant Speed to all premises in rural, economically-challenged communities where broadband service does not exist. The deployment of broadband services on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis stimulates economic development and provides enhanced educational and health care opportunities in rural areas. RUS will give priority to rural areas that demonstrate the greatest need for broadband services. Deadline: December 23, 2020.

  • Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) – Downtown Revitalization – Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED): The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) offers grants to eligible Missouri communities to engage in revitalization efforts to renew downtown areas and restore them to their former prominence as a center of community activity. Eligible uses of funds include public infrastructure and improvements that will significantly contribute to the revitalization or redevelopment of the downtown. These improvements may include, but are not limited to, water, sewer, electric, gas, sidewalks, curb cuts, street paving, parking, lighting, etc. Professional services and administration activities are also eligible. Marketing costs are not eligible. This program requires a 1:1 match of CDBG funding with private for-profit investment. Application maximum is $500,000. Deadline: December 31, 2020. 

  • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – General Infrastructure – Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED): This program helps Missouri communities strengthen its local economy by improving local public infrastructure, streets, drainage, and bridges. Reliable and sustainable infrastructure helps support the business community as well as residents. This program does not fund the operation, maintenance or improvements related to fire flow. Eligible funds include, but are not limited to, bridge, street, drainage, broadband, and activities not addressed with an existing CDBG funding category. The projects must be CDBG-eligible publicly owned infrastructure activities and meet a CDBG national objective. This category allows the applicant to recognize and solve an infrastructure need particular to the community. Application maximum is $500,000. Deadline: December 31, 2020. 

  • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Community Facilities – Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED): This program helps Missouri communities construct facilities that will serve a large portion of the public with a variety of services. With education and health/well-being programs taking priority, communities can utilize this program to construct senior centers, day care centers, rural health clinics, telecommunications, and 911 services, among others. This may include the infrastructure necessary to support the facility, as well. They must be owned by a local government or non-profit agency. It is the responsibility of the applicant to assure the non-profit status of the entity seeking assistance. Applications for community facilities must provide evidence of the ability to operate and maintain the facility for the purpose intended. CDBG funds proposed for the day-to-day operation of the facility are not eligible. Application maximum is $500,000 or $5,000 per family benefiting. Deadline: December 31, 2020.

  • African American Civil Rights Grant – National Park Service: The African American Civil Rights Grant Program documents, interprets, and preserves sites and stories related to the African American struggle to gain equal rights as citizens. This competitive grant program provides grants to states, tribes, local governments (including Certified Local Governments), and nonprofits. Non-federal matching share is not required, but preference will be given to applications that show community commitment through non-federal match and partnership collaboration. Grants will fund a broad range of planning, development, and research projects for historic sites including: survey, inventory, documentation, interpretation, education, architectural services, historic structure reports, preservation plans, and "bricks and mortar" repair. Deadline: January 12, 2021.

  • History of Equal Rights Grant Program – National Park Service: Funded through the Historic Preservation Fund, the History of Equal Rights grant program preserves sites related to the struggle of all people to achieve equal rights in America. The History of Equal Rights grants are not limited to any specific group and are intended to include the broadest possible interpretation of sites associated with efforts to achieve equal rights. This program funds physical preservation work and pre-preservation planning activities for sites that are listed in or determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or as a National Historic Landmark. Should a site not be listed, or not listed for its association with equal rights, then a new nomination or amendment must be created as part of the grant project. Grants under this program are awarded through a competitive process and do not require non-Federal match. Deadline: January 12, 2021.

  • African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund – National Trust for Historic Preservation: The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund provides grants ranging from $50,000 to $150,000. These grants are designed to advance ongoing preservation activities for historic places such as sites, museums, and landscape projects representing African American cultural heritage through grants to nonprofit organizations and government agencies. The Action Fund supports projects focused on African American cultural heritage, and can include: Capital Projects, Organizational Capacity Building, Project Planning, and Programming and Interpretation. Grant awards will be announced in July 2020. National Trust funding is available exclusively to nonprofits and government agencies, and any applicants who are invited to submit a full application will be required to also be Forum members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation at the Organizational level. Deadline: LOI due January 15, 2021. 

  • HOPE VI Main Street Program – US Dept. Housing and Urban Development (HUD): The HOPE VI Main Street Program provides grants to small communities to assist in the renovation of an historic or traditional central business district or “Main Street” area by replacing unused, obsolete, commercial space in buildings with affordable housing units. The obsolete building space property may be publicly or privately owned. Note, however, that the local government whose jurisdiction includes the Main Street area is the only entity that is eligible to receive an award. Applications submitted by other entities, e.g., the private property owner, are not eligible for award. The objectives of the program are to: redevelop central business districts (Main Street areas); preserve historic or traditional Main Street area properties by replacing unused commercial space in buildings with affordable housing units; enhance economic development efforts in Main Street areas; and provide affordable housing in Main Street areas. Deadline: January 19, 2021.

  • Community Grants – PeopleForBikes: The PeopleForBikes (PFB) Community Grant Program provides funding for important projects that build momentum for bicycling in communities across the U.S. As part of PFB’s efforts to get more children and youth on bikes, this grant cycle is dedicated to supporting bike park and pump track projects only. PeopleForBikes accepts grant applications from non-profit organizations with a focus on bicycling, active transportation, or community development, from city or county agencies or departments, and from state or federal agencies working locally. Deadline: Letter of intent due January 22, 2021, full application due April 9, 2021.

  • Save America’s Treasures – National Park Service: The SAT program is administered by the National Park Service (NPS) in cooperation with its partners, Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The NPS is now accepting applications for $16 million in FY2020 funding. Please note there are two separate applications: one for preservation projects and one for projects involving collections. One for preservation projects (for properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places for national significance or listed as a National Historic Landmark. The property may be listed on either individually or as contributing to a nationally significant district). One for projects involving collections (including artifacts, museum collections, documents, sculptures, and other works of art). SAT funds the preservation, rehabilitation, and conservation of nationally significant historic properties and collections. Deadline January 26, 2021.

  • Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) – FEMA: Funding is available to states, local communities, tribes, and territories for pre-disaster mitigation activities. BRIC priorities are to incentivize public infrastructure projects, projects that mitigate risk to one or more lifelines, projects that incorporate nature-based solutions, and adoption and enforcement of modern building codes. A cost share is required generally in the amount of 25% non-federal match. Eligible projects include capability and capacity building activities, mitigation projects, and management costs. Deadline: January 29, 2021. 

  • Small Grants – Clif Bar Family Foundation: Priority is given to applications that address the foundation’s funding priorities from a holistic perspective. These include: protecting Earth's beauty and bounty, creating a robust, healthy food system, increasing opportunities for outdoor activity, reducing environmental health hazards, and building stronger communities. It is important that applications operate with clearly defined objectives and viable plans to achieve them. Applications must demonstrate strong community ties and operate at the community level. It is important to promote positive change through both the projects and their implementation process. These grants are awarded for general organizational support as well as funding for specific projects. Deadline: February 1, 2021.

  • Mini Grants – Missouri Humanities Council (MHC): MHC will consider any proposal to support humanities-based projects or programs submitted by a non-profit organization or a civic, educational, or cultural organization that operates as a non-profit, including (but not limited to) schools and other educational institutions, local government and governmental agencies, and civic associations. Organizations may apply individually or in partnership with other eligible entities and organizations (in the case of multiple partners participating in the grant project, only a single organization can serve as the applying entity). Mini grants are awarded for project requests of up to $2,500. Deadline: February 1, 2021.

  • Preservation Funds – National Trust for Historic Preservation: National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for particular projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector. Grants generally start at $2,500 and range up to $5,000. The selection process is very competitive. Deadline: February 1, 2021.

  • Battlefield Preservation Fund – National Trust for Historic Preservation: Battlefield Preservation Fund will serve as a catalyst to stimulate efforts to preserve battlefields, viewsheds, and related historic structures and to leverage fund-raising activities. While efforts involving battlefields associated with the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the French and Indian Wars, and other battles fought in the United States are eligible for funding, priority will be given to those that have limited access to other specialized battlefield funding programs. Typical uses of grants from the fund include legal and research fees to mitigate development threats, fund-raising and media plans, feasibility studies for endangered buildings and sites, archeological studies, landscape research and planning, viewshed protection, easement planning, and interpretation and heritage education activities. Grants generally start at $2,500 and range up to $5,000. The selection process is very competitive. Deadline: February 1, 2021.

  • Grants for Arts Projects – National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): Grants for Arts Projects is the National Endowment for the Arts’ principal grants program. Through project-based funding, NEA supports public engagement with, and access to, various forms of excellent art across the nation, the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, learning in the arts at all stages of life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life. Projects may be large or small, existing or new, and may take place in any part of the nation’s 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Eligible applicants include nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. Cost share/matching grants generally will range from $10,000 to $100,000. No grants will be made below $10,000. Deadline: February 23, 2021.
Highlighted Ongoing Grant Opportunities
  • Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program – USDA: This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings. Deadline: ongoing.

  • Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program – USDA: This program provides loan guarantees to eligible private lenders to help build essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings. Deadline: ongoing.

  • Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program – USDA: This program provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) that then provide microloans to help microenterprises startup and grow through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund and provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs. Microloan funds from MDOs may be used for working capital, debt refinancing, purchase equipment and supplies, and improve real estate. Deadline: ongoing.

  • Walmart Foundation: The Walmart Foundation’s Community Grant Program is offering grants to nonprofit organizations and agencies that work in one of the foundation’s three priority areas: creating economic opportunity, enhancing sustainability in supply chains, and strengthening community. Awards range from $250 to $5,000. Deadline: Applications are accepted on ongoing basis until December 31, 2020.
Any Special Projects?
Do you have a special project in your historic district that we can keep in mind when researching funding resources? Email Katelyn at katelyn@momainstreet.org.
Share Your Success
We would love to share any grant success stories in a future issue of the Grant Resource Directory in order to provide ideas for how the funding has been used in Main Street communities. If you have any projects you would like to share, email Katelyn at katelyn@momainstreet.org.
How can MMSC assist your community?
Community Empowerment Grant Program
The Community Empowerment Grant (CEG) program is a two-year grant for services as a 60/40 matching grant. The community is responsible for 40% of the costs totaling $12,320. To be eligible for this program, a community representative must attend an CEG workshop. Check here for upcoming workshops.

The CEG program includes hands- on training and guidance to help the community establish a local Main Street program.
Strategic Teams Engaging People
Strategic Teams Engaging People (STEP) is a one-year grant for services as a 75/25 matching grant. The community is responsible for 25% of the costs totaling $5,000.

The STEP grant provides individualized training with a focus on initiatives for sustained revitalization and technical development to advance the Main Street organization's downtown development.
People Energizing Places
People Energizing Places (PEP) is a two-year grant for services as a 75/25 matching grant. The community is responsible for 25% of the costs totaling $9,600.

The PEP grant was developed to provide the next step for local Main Street programs with more advanced training and development customized for the community's needs.
The opportunities included in this email are not a complete list of possible funding resources. This list is not meant to take the place of an individual organization’s research. Not every opportunity will be applicable to each organization or community. This list may include grants for government entities, other non-profits, etc. whose work supplements that of a Main Street organization. 

The Grant Resource Directory is a benefit for Missouri Main Street Connection network members. Thank you for joining and supporting the work of MMSC and Main Streets in Missouri!
Missouri Main Street Connection
3044 Shepherd of the Hills Expy Suite 214
Branson, MO 65616
417-334-3014