URA Announces Pilot Program Making its Funding More Accessible and Visible for Community Projects

PITTSBURGH, PA (July 15, 2019) – The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) announced today it is accepting applications for the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund (NIF) Program, a pilot program that will make it easier for City of Pittsburgh communities to access funding for neighborhood-scale projects. The URA Board of Directors approved the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund Program guidelines on July 11, 2019.

The program, administered by the URA’s Economic Development Department, will provide grants up to $100,000 to nonprofits and community-based organizations for eligible non-housing, neighborhood projects including, but not limited to:

• Vacant property reclamation and stewardship
• Historic preservation
• Brownfield development
• Construction of public space and neighborhood infrastructure improvements, such as streetscape improvements, transit and transportation-related improvements, parks and open space improvements, green infrastructure, and public art.

Nonprofit organizations with for profit development partners are also eligible to apply.

There are two levels of funding available: Tier 1 includes grants under $20,000 with no matching requirements; and Tier 2 includes grants between $20,000 to $100,000 with matching funds required from non-URA and non-City sources.

The grants will be awarded through a competitive process in order to help unlock the economic and placemaking potential within neighborhoods; support vision-to-action community investment strategies that build an equitable Pittsburgh; and formalize collaborative partnerships across the City.

The first round of applications will be accepted until October 1, 2019. The URA will host a series of information sessions open to the public throughout the City:

• August 5, 2019 | 6-7 p.m.
  Beechview Healthy Active Living Center
  1555 Broadway Avenue
  
  
• August 6, 2019 | 6-7 p.m.
  West End Healthy Active Living Center
  80 Wabash Street
  
  
• August 8, 2019 | 6-7 p.m.
  Kingsley Association
  6435 Frankstown Avenue
  
  
• August 15, 2019 | Noon-12:40 p.m.
  Webinar - https://us04web.zoom.us/j/907013626
  
  
• Information Sessions in Central and North locations will be scheduled soon.

The program guidelines, applications and funding schedule can be found here. For additional information, please contact the URA’s Economic Development Department at 412.255.6560.