Access to Quality Childcare for Children with Disabilities Grant in District of Columbia

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is offering Rural Downtown Economic Development (RDED) Grants, a program designed to support downtown revitalization and economic development initiatives. The core mission of this grant program is to assist local governments in growing and leveraging their downtown districts as assets for economic growth, development, and prosperity. While the context does not explicitly detail the "foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change" in a separate section, the program's overall purpose and eligible activities implicitly align with strategies focused on strengthening local economies through targeted investment in public infrastructure and community assets within downtown areas. The primary beneficiaries of the RDED Grants are units of local government, specifically municipal or county governments located in Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties, and rural census tracts in Tier 3 counties within North Carolina. The impact goals are centered on fostering economic growth, retaining businesses, attracting customers, and creating or retaining jobs within downtown districts. The program aims to transform these areas into vibrant economic engines for their communities, ultimately leading to broader economic development and increased prosperity for residents. The program prioritizes and focuses on projects that involve public improvements aimed at business retention and customer attraction within business districts. It also strongly supports publicly owned downtown economic development initiatives that utilize main streets and downtown districts as economic catalysts. Furthermore, the grants facilitate publicly owned building improvements for community-wide or mixed-use development, ensuring public control and benefit. Specific eligible activities include improvements to public infrastructure (like lots, alleys, streetscapes, waterfront developments, and parks), renovations or additions to public buildings (such as community centers, theaters, and libraries), and mixed-use downtown developments incorporating retail, restaurant, service, professional, nonprofit, governmental, institutional, or residential uses. Expected outcomes include a strengthened local economy, increased job opportunities, enhanced public spaces, and revitalized downtown districts that serve as community hubs. Measurable results are directly tied to the maximum grant amount, which is capped at $850,000 per grantee and may not exceed $12,500 per projected job created or retained. This direct link to job creation and retention provides a clear metric for assessing the program's success in achieving its economic development objectives. The discretion of the Rural Infrastructure Authority in funding availability suggests an ongoing commitment to strategic investments that align with the state's broader rural development goals.