2024 Community Planning Grants
The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission (County Planning) is soliciting project applications for the 2024 Community Planning Grant Program.
Application Materials
Schedule
- Applications open: December 4, 2023
- Deadline to submit questions: December 15, 2023
- Applications close: January 12, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
- Award announcements: by March 1, 2024
Goal of the Community Planning Grant Program
The primary goal of the Community Planning Grant Program is to further the mission of County Planning. Offering our planning services to municipalities can help to strengthen local planning resources and promote best practices. We help 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. These activities:
- 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 grants and 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 groups, organizations, or other neighboring communities. Only one application can be submitted per eligible community.
Eligible Activities
Through the Community Planning Grant Program, County Planning staff will provide planning and technical services to complete various planning, zoning, and related technical projects proposed by Cuyahoga County communities. County Planning is expanding eligible project activities in 2024 to include targeted planning projects. Eligible activities include planning and zoning projects focused on specific geographic areas, corridors, or topics including, but not limited to, the following:
- Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning;
- Corridor Studies;
- Neighborhood/Small Area Plans;
- Business District Revitalization Plans;
- 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;
- Park and Greenspace Inventories, Assessments, and Open Space Planning; and
- Active Transportation Planning.
The following project type may be considered for funding (no more than two will be funded) for the 2024 Community Planning Grant Program:
- Community-Wide Master Plans.
Projects that complement regional plans, county-wide 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, Transit-Oriented Development Zoning Study, and Single-Family Zoning Analysis.
Current and past projects completed by County Planning can be found online. Interested communities are encouraged to contact Planning Manager Jim Sonnhalter at (216) 443-3713 or jsonnhalter@cuyahogacounty.us prior to applying to discuss any project and its appropriateness for the Community Planning Grant Program.