The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission (County Planning) is soliciting project applications for the 2026 Community Planning Services Program (CPSP). Formerly known as the “Community Planning Grant Program,” the CPSP continues our practice of providing professional planning and technical services at a reduced cost for awardees.

Application Materials

• Application Form
• Application Manual

Schedule

• Applications open: Monday, April 20, 2026
• Deadline to submit questions: Friday, May 8, 2026
• Applications close: Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
• Award announcement: Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Goal of the Community Planning Services Program

The primary goal of the Community Planning Services Program is to further the mission of County Planning. Offering our professional planning and technical services to municipalities can help to strengthen local planning resources and promote best practices. We help communities develop and update tools, best practices, strategies, and regulations to improve the environment, economic development, and quality of life for the residents, businesses, and visitors of Cuyahoga County. Our work will:

• Identify short-and-long range goals to match community priorities and needs;
• Prepare communities, residents, and businesses for future development;
• Provide opportunities for community input and engagement; and,
• Give a competitive advantage when communities are applying for grant funding for project implementation.

Eligibility

All 59 communities in Cuyahoga County are eligible to participate, including those that have previously received awards.* Cities, villages, and townships must be the primary applicant. Communities are encouraged to partner with local Community Development Corporations (CDCs) or other organizations, or other neighboring communities. Only one application can be submitted per eligible community.

*With one exception—Communities that have completed a Master Plan through this program within the last ten (10) years are ineligible to apply for another Community Master Plan.

Eligible Activities

Through CPSP, County Planning staff will provide planning and technical services to complete various planning, zoning, and related technical projects proposed by Cuyahoga County communities. Eligible activities include both community-wide projects and targeted planning projects that focus on specific geographic areas, corridors, or topics. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:

Community Plans

• Master Plans (a maximum of two will be awarded);
• Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning and Zoning;
• Corridor Studies, including multi-jurisdictional efforts;
• Neighborhood/Small Area Plans;
• Business District Revitalization Plans;
• Park and Greenspace Inventories, Assessments, and Open Space Planning;
• Active Transportation Planning;

Technical Services

• Data Mapping/Spatial Analyses;
• Targeted Zoning Code Analyses or Chapter Updates (e.g., Overlay Districts, Model Sign Codes, Parking Standards, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and Sustainability (e.g., EV Charging, Solar Panels);
• Updates to Zoning Maps and Development of Online Resources;
• Community Surveys.

Projects that complement regional plans, Countywide development efforts, and/or strategic initiatives, as well as those projects that promote the implementation of local or multi-jurisdictional planning efforts are encouraged. Examples of regional initiatives include the Cuyahoga Greenways Plan, Lakefront Public Access Plan, Transit-Oriented Development Zoning Study, and Single-Family Zoning Analysis.

Please see the projects section of this site for current and past projects completed by County Planning. Interested communities are encouraged to contact Planning Manager Jim Sonnhalter at (216) 443-3713 or jsonnhalter@cuyahogacounty.gov prior to applying to discuss any anticipated project and its appropriateness for the Community Planning Services Program.