Community Planning Technical Assistance Program (C-TAP)

The Community Planning Technical Assistance Program (C-TAP), offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED), is a state-level initiative designed to assist local and county governments as well as municipal partner organizations in achieving strategic, effective community planning outcomes. Administered by DCED’s Office of Community Planning, this program provides up to 400 hours of hands-on, project-specific technical assistance per recipient. Rather than offering direct funding, C-TAP supports applicants by deploying experienced planning professionals to help guide them through the planning lifecycle, from early scoping and goal setting to implementing completed plans. C-TAP serves as a resource for communities seeking to strengthen their long-term planning strategies. The program encompasses support in three key phases of planning: pre-planning, planning, and post-planning. In the pre-planning phase, C-TAP helps communities assess readiness, define clear objectives, engage stakeholders, and prepare documents like Requests for Proposals and scopes of work. During the planning phase, the program provides zoning analyses, assessments of existing ordinances, and other regulatory tools to inform future development. Once a plan is complete, C-TAP continues to provide value by supporting implementation, offering guidance on funding strategies, and assisting with the design of local programs grounded in adopted plans. Eligible entities include Pennsylvania’s local and county governments as well as municipal partner organizations. There are no cash grants or funding disbursed through C-TAP. Instead, communities benefit from customized technical assistance rendered by staff planners employed by DCED. This technical assistance can be applied to tasks like strategic planning, community engagement, zoning evaluation, blight mitigation strategies, and leveraging plans for follow-up funding. Each community’s needs are matched with expert planners for focused, high-impact support. To apply for the C-TAP program, interested communities must first engage with their assigned Local Government Planner to shape and refine a proposal. Once ready, the community or municipal partner may formally submit a request for assistance through DCED’s online form. Full program details, including eligible activities and examples of prior engagements, are provided on the program's official webpage. Program staff are also available for consultation via the dedicated email and phone contact options listed. Evaluation for the program is not competitive in the traditional sense, as C-TAP is a service provision initiative rather than a financial award. The decision to allocate planner hours is based on project scope, readiness, and strategic alignment with DCED’s community development goals. While no deadlines or recurring submission windows are publicly posted, the fact sheet dated March 27, 2026, and the open nature of online requests imply a rolling basis for intake. The main contacts for the C-TAP program are housed in DCED’s Office of Community Planning, including Director Ted S. Martin and Administrative Assistant Kelly A. Hoffman. Additionally, regional Planning Specialists are available across various Pennsylvania regions to support applicants. The contact list is detailed in the program’s two-page fact sheet, which includes specific staff names, emails, and phone numbers segmented by region. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out directly to begin the consultation process and explore available services.