See program pages for FAQs specific to each program
Who can apply for an LCA program?
Participating cities, counties, or development organizations like a Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) or Economic Development Authority (EDA). Applications must come from the government partner.
When you say "applicant" or "grantee", what do you mean?
The applicant is the government organization (participating city, county, or development organization) that submits the application. Because all LCA grants go to a government organization instead of the developer, the grantee is the same organization that submits the application. When we talk about the project team we mean everyone else involved in the application like the developer or consultants.
Can developers or community organizations apply to LCA programs?
In LHIA, Developers can apply directly, but if awarded the government partner must agree to accept the grant and then sub-allocate it to the Developer. For all other programs, applications need to come from the government partner. Developers and the rest of the project team are encouraged to actively participate in filling out the application and talking with LCA staff about any questions.
Which communities are eligible to participate?
All eligible communities are on this list.
What do I need to do to be eligible to participate?
To be eligible to apply to LCA programs, the city where the project is located needs to participate in the Local Housing Incentives program and adopt affordable and lifecycle housing goals. [link]
How do I become an LCA participating community?
Your City Council will need to adopt affordable and lifecycle housing goals. Reach out to
Maia Guerrero-Combs with any questions about this process.
How do I apply?
Applications for all programs except LHIA are submitted through WebGrants, an online grant portal. See the section on WebGrants on the Apply tab for more information on registering and applying through WebGrants. LHIA applications go through
Minnesota Housing’s Consolidated Request for Proposals.
Can I apply to more than one program?
Yes, many projects get funding from multiple LCA grant programs. The only exception is LCDA and TOD; applicants should choose either LCDA OR TOD in a single grant cycle. Talk with a program officer if you are interested in applying to multiple LCA grants.
What do you consider affordable housing?
Housing is counted as affordable if it is at 60% AMI and has restrictions in place to keep the units affordable for at least 15 years.
Who should I talk to if I have questions?
Each program is managed by a program officer. Reach out to the program officer for the program you are interested in to ask any questions. If you are not sure which program is the best fit or if you have a general question, any of the program officers can help get you to the right contact.
Do you have additional resources for how projects can meet LCA and/or Thrive goals?
Yes! The
LCA resource library has links to a list of resources that can help your project team include LCA and Thrive goals in your project.
What happens if I am awarded a grant?
The LCA grants administrator will get in touch with you shortly after awards are finalized to create a grant agreement. This agreement will outline our requested activities and timelines for requesting funds. LCA grants are reimbursements, so the applicant (government organization) will get reimbursed after the activity is completed and a disbursement request has been submitted. If you have more questions about this process, reach out to Niccole Clapp at
Nicole.Clapp@metc.state.mn.us. More information about grants administration is available on the
Grants Administration page.
Who does the money go to if a grant is awarded?
Because the grant application must come from the government partner, the funds are awarded directly to the government organization. The government partner staff will work with the development team on how to disburse the funds.