Due to the COVID-19 health crisis and the continually updating information, Missouri Main Street Connection has decided to send the Grant Resource Directory weekly for the foreseeable future. This will allow us to provide frequent funding research updates to you as you continue to adapt to the current situation.
Small Business Surveys
Missouri Main Street Connection and the National Main Street Center are seeking information from small businesses in Missouri. We want to collect a little bit more information to help understand the issues and challenges Missouri small businesses are currently facing. Your response will help us to better assist you, guide resources, and provide programming in the future.

There are two, short surveys for you to complete. These surveys work together so it is important that you complete both. 
COVID-19 Response Resources
  • Farmer Relief Fund – American Farmland Trust: AFT’s Farmer Relief Fund will award farmers with cash grants of up to $1,000 each to help them weather the current storm of market disruptions caused by the coronavirus crisis. Initially, eligible applicants include any small and mid-size direct-market producers. These are defined as producers with annual gross revenue of between $10,000 and $1 million from sales at farmers markets and/or direct sales to restaurants, caterers, schools, stores, or makers who use farm products as inputs. Deadline: Initial application round extending until April 23rd, with grants beginning to be made by May 1st.

  • Paycheck Protection Program – U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. This program is for any small business with less than 500 employees (including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons), private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations affected by coronavirus/COVID-19. Businesses in certain industries may have more than 500 employees if they meet the SBA’s size standards for those industries. Small businesses in the hospitality and food industry with more than one location could also be eligible at the store and location level if the store employs less than 500 workers. This means each store location could be eligible. Deadline: June 30, 2020.

  • Economic Injury Disaster Loan – U.S. Small Business Administration: 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. Deadline: December 21, 2020.

  • USDA Programming Changes: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA has made some changes to current and upcoming grant programs including deferred payments and extended due dates.

  • Facebook Small Business Grants Program: Facebook is offering a Small Business Grant Program to assist small businesses during the global outbreak of COVID-19. They are offering $100M in cash grants and Facebook ad credits. The details of this grant are still being worked out, but interested small businesses can sign up to get updates.

  • 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 Fund will support charitable organizations to both maintain their operations and services and increase their capacity to serve those impacted by COVID-19, including addressing the economic impacts on individuals and their families due to job interruption and reduction in income and benefits. This program is available for Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, and Ray counties in Missouri.

  • KC COVID-19 Small Business Relief Loan Fund – AltCap: The KC COVID-19 Small Business Relief Loan Fund is a new community-backed $5 million small business relief loan fund intended to provide immediate relief to local, small businesses experiencing extreme economic disruption and financial strain as a result of the necessary public health measures to “flatten the curve” and combat the virus. The KC COVID-19 Small Business Relief Loan Fund will provide flexible, patient capital for the area’s hardest hit small businesses. Applications are available now for 3-year, short term loans up to $100,000 with no interest and deferred payments for the first 6-12 months. No minimum credit score is required, and collateral requirements are flexible. Businesses must be located in Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass counties in Missouri to be eligible.
Current Grant Opportunities
  • 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. The PeopleForBikes Community Grant Program supports bicycle infrastructure projects and targeted advocacy initiatives that make it easier and safer for people of all ages and abilities to ride. 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 17, 2020, full application due April 3, 2020.

  • Rural Energy for American Program – USDA: USDA is offering funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans. The program offers financing and grant funding for agriculture producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install, and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. EXTENDED Deadline: April 15, 2020.

  • Rural Business Development Grant – USDA: This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Potential applicants are rural public entities that include towns, communities, state agencies, authorities, nonprofit corporations, institutions of higher education, federally-recognized tribes, and rural cooperatives. Rural Business Development Grant money must be used for projects that benefit rural areas or towns outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more. There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority. There is no cost sharing requirement. EXTENDED Deadline: April 15, 2020.

  • CANCELLED - Challenge America – National Endowment for the Arts: Notice from the National Endowment for the Arts: For the National Endowment for the Arts to effectively and efficiently gear up to distribute $75 million in funding provided to it by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Arts Endowment must cancel its April 9, 2020 Challenge America application deadline. Challenge America applicants should apply for Grants for Arts Projects with a deadline of July 9, 2020.

  • Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program – National Parks Service: Renamed in 2019, the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program is a new Historic Preservation Fund grant program created in fiscal year 2018 that supports subgrant programs that enable the rehabilitation of historic properties and rehabilitate, protect, and foster economic development of rural communities. This program funds preservation projects for historic sites, including architectural and engineering services and physical building preservation through subgrants to communities determined rural by the US Bureau of the Census. Eligible properties must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places or determined eligible for listing at the National, State, or local level of significance and located within rural (non-urban) communities with populations less than 50,000. States, Tribes, Certified Local Governments, and non-profits will apply for funding that will in turn be subgranted to rural communities in their jurisdictions. Deadline: April 21, 2020.

  • National Fund for Sacred Places – Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation: This program offers participating congregations with two critical resources to support the stewardship of their historic facilities. This includes capacity-building technical support services and capital grants for the restoration of the building. Each participating congregation is required to send representatives to capacity-building training. Planning grants that average $5,000 are administered to participants on a rolling basis upon request and can cover a variety of professional services needed beyond the expertise of the congregation. Participating congregations will also receive a package of individualized technical assistance. After finalizing a comprehensive fundraising plan and scope of work—and once participating congregations have completed the National Fund training and received other capacity-building services—participants are ready to request a capital grant of $50,000-250,000. Deadline: Letter of Intent due April 22, 2020, full application due July 13, 2020.

  • 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: May 1, 2020.

  • Hart Family Fund for Small Towns – National Trust for Historic Preservation: Grants from the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects in small towns. 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 from the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns generally range from $2,500 to $15,000. Public agencies and nonprofit organizations in towns with a population of 10,000 or less are eligible. Deadline: May 1, 2020.

  • Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) – USDA: The intermediary must provide a program of financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas. RCDI grants may be awarded to non-profit and community development organizations, low-income rural communities, and federally recognized tribes. Minimum grant award is $50,000; maximum grant award is $250,000. Matching fund are required equal to the amount of the grant. Deadline: Electronic submissions due May 13, 2020 and paper submissions due May 18, 2020.

  • Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grant – National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): The mission of this Challenge Grants program is to strengthen the institutional base of the humanities by enabling infrastructure development and capacity building. Awards aim to help institutions secure long-term support for their core activities and expand efforts to preserve and create access to outstanding humanities materials. Applications are welcome from colleges and universities, museums, public libraries, research institutions, historical societies and historic sites, scholarly associations, state humanities councils, and other public and nonprofit humanities entities. The program funds two distinct types of project: capital projects and digital infrastructure. Capital projects supports the design, purchase, construction, restoration, or renovation of facilities for humanities activities. Digital infrastructure supports the maintenance, modernization and sustainability of existing digital scholarly projects and platforms. Deadline: May 15, 2020. Optional draft due April 3, 2020.

  • Community Challenge – AARP: The AARP Community Challenge grant program is part of the nationwide AARP Livable Communities initiative that helps communities become great places to live for residents of all ages. The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund "quick-action" projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. The grant program will provide funds for community-based projects related to housing, transportation, public space, technology (“smart cities”), civic engagement, and more. Grants can range from several hundred dollars for smaller, short-term activities to several thousand or tens of thousands of dollars for larger projects. EXTENDED Deadline: May 15, 2020.

  • States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP) – Delta Regional Authority (DRA): The main investment tool used by the Delta Regional Authority is the States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP), which provides direct investment into community-based and regional projects that address the DRA’s congressionally mandated four funding priorities. Entities that are eligible to apply for DRA funding include: state and local governments (state agencies, city and county/parish); public bodies; and non-profit entities. All eligible applicants must be applying for projects that operate in or are serving residents and communities within the 252 counties and parishes of the DRA footprint. Federal funding priority criteria include: regional impact, multiple funding partners, emergency funding need, registered apprenticeship, infrastructure, merging and consolidating public utilities, broadband infrastructure, and water or wastewater rate study. Deadline: May 31, 2020.

  • Building Vibrant Communities – Bank of America Charitable Foundation: Vibrant communities are places where individuals can thrive and succeed and have the opportunity to live and work with safe, decent housing, transportation to jobs, strong business corridors and thriving arts and culture districts. All of these are essential to an individual’s overall economic mobility. Bank of America supports local and regional revitalization efforts taking a holistic approach to building thriving communities, create economic opportunity and livable neighborhoods. This includes support of economic drivers such as arts and cultural institutions that contribute to the overall vitality of the community. Available to communities in the Kansas City and St. Louis metro areas. Deadline: Applications accepted beginning June 1, 2020 through June 26, 2020.
Highlighted Ongoing Grant Opportunities
  • Express Grants – Missouri Arts Council: Express Grants are designed to encourage small and emerging arts organizations and organizations based in rural communities to seek financial assistance for arts activities. Express Grants are awarded in the categories of arts councils, arts education, minority arts, the Missouri Touring Program, and other strategic projects. Deadline: first Monday of the month, two months in advance of the month in which the project occurs.

  • Tax Credit for Contribution Program – Missouri Development Finance Board: The Missouri Development Finance Board is authorized by Section 100.286.6 of the Missouri Statutes to grant a tax credit equal to 50% on the value of any eligible contribution to the Board by any taxpayer. For contributions made to the Infrastructure Development Fund and for which the applicant is requesting a grant of contribution proceeds from the Board, the project must qualify as a public infrastructure facility as determined under Chapter 100.255(9) and (14) of the Board’s statutes. Deadline: ongoing.

  • Cultural Facility Revenue Bond Program – Missouri Development Finance Board: Tax-Exempt Bonds can be used to finance cultural facilities for charitable organizations which are qualified 501(c)(3) entities. Interest rates on tax-exempt bonds are significantly below conventional rates. Money can be applied to land acquisition, machinery and equipment, building acquisition, renovation, construction, architectural and engineering, issuance cost (2%), and land improvements. Potential facilities that bonds may cover the cost of purchase, construction, expansion or improvements are museums, recreational facilities, and other facilities for 501(c)(3) not for profit entities. Deadline: ongoing.

  • Emergency/Intervention Funding – National Trust for Historic Preservation: Intervention funding from the National Trust is awarded in emergency situations when immediate and unanticipated work is needed to save a historic structure, such as when a fire or other natural disaster strikes. Funding is restricted to nonprofit organizations and public agencies. Emergency grants typically range from $1,000 to $5,000, but unlike the majority of our grant funding, a cash match is not required for intervention projects. Deadline: ongoing.
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