$119 Million Now Available to Cities for Housing Planning Grants
Feb 20, 2020
The 2019-20 Budget Act established the Local Early Action Planning Grants (LEAP), formerly known as the Local Government Planning Support Grants Program. The program provides over-the-counter grants and technical assistance to all cities and counties to prepare and adopt planning documents, and process improvements that accelerate housing production and facilitate compliance to implement the sixth-cycle Regional Housing Needs Assessment.
Webinar Recording
Learn how your city can receive these one-time planning grant funds and technical assistance by viewing the LEAP webinar. The LEAP webinar slide presentation can be found here.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are limited to cities and counties. However, local governments may collaborate with other local agencies or entities where the proposal will have a direct effect on land-use or development within the participating localities. This includes partnerships with other localities, regional governments, housing authorities, school districts, special districts, community-based organizations, or any duly constituted governing body of an Indian Reservation or Rancheria.
Award Amounts
The maximum award amounts are based on population estimates as of Jan. 1, 2019. The minimum award amount is $25,000. The Maximum Grant Amounts jurisdictions may receive is as follows:
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities must be related to housing planning, facilitate the streamlining and acceleration of housing production, may be part of a larger planning effort (e.g., a comprehensive zoning code update) if proposed activities have not been completed prior to the NOFA date, are distinct, and demonstrate a nexus to accelerating housing production. Eligible activities are not necessarily jurisdiction-wide and may include a smaller geography with a significant impact on housing production. A comprehensive list of eligible activities can be found in the NOFA.
Program Timeline
Local governments must submit their applications by July 1, 2020, however, HCD strongly encourages jurisdictions to submit their applications as soon as possible. Apply for funding and technical assistance using the LEAP Application. Going forward, cities should look for the Regional Action Planning Grants available to Councils of Governments (COGs). COGs will likely sub-allocate portions of the grant funding to cities and counties.
For more information on the application process, please refer to the NOFA or email HCD at EarlyActionPlanning@hcd.ca.gov.
Webinar Recording
Learn how your city can receive these one-time planning grant funds and technical assistance by viewing the LEAP webinar. The LEAP webinar slide presentation can be found here.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are limited to cities and counties. However, local governments may collaborate with other local agencies or entities where the proposal will have a direct effect on land-use or development within the participating localities. This includes partnerships with other localities, regional governments, housing authorities, school districts, special districts, community-based organizations, or any duly constituted governing body of an Indian Reservation or Rancheria.
Award Amounts
The maximum award amounts are based on population estimates as of Jan. 1, 2019. The minimum award amount is $25,000. The Maximum Grant Amounts jurisdictions may receive is as follows:
| Jurisdiction Size (in population) | Maximum Award Amount |
| 750,000 or greater | $1,500,000 |
| 300,000 to 749,999 | $750,000 |
| 100,000 to 299,999 | $500,000 |
| 60,000 to 99,999 | $300,000 |
| 20,000 to 59,999 | $150,000 |
| Less than 20,000 | $65,000 |
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities must be related to housing planning, facilitate the streamlining and acceleration of housing production, may be part of a larger planning effort (e.g., a comprehensive zoning code update) if proposed activities have not been completed prior to the NOFA date, are distinct, and demonstrate a nexus to accelerating housing production. Eligible activities are not necessarily jurisdiction-wide and may include a smaller geography with a significant impact on housing production. A comprehensive list of eligible activities can be found in the NOFA.
Program Timeline
| Event | Date |
| NOFA Release | Jan. 27, 2020 |
| Technical Assistance Workshops | Coming Soon Technical Assistance Workshops will be hosted at a regional, sub-regional, and county level and will provide applications with targeted TA such as application assistance. |
| Final Due Date for Applications | July 1, 2020 |
| Technical Assistance | February 2020 through Dec. 31, 2023 |
| Expenditure Deadline | Dec. 31, 2023 |
Local governments must submit their applications by July 1, 2020, however, HCD strongly encourages jurisdictions to submit their applications as soon as possible. Apply for funding and technical assistance using the LEAP Application. Going forward, cities should look for the Regional Action Planning Grants available to Councils of Governments (COGs). COGs will likely sub-allocate portions of the grant funding to cities and counties.
For more information on the application process, please refer to the NOFA or email HCD at EarlyActionPlanning@hcd.ca.gov.