Heartland 2050 Mini Grant

The Heartland 2050 Mini-Grant Program is a funding opportunity administered by the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA), designed to advance the Heartland 2050 Vision. MAPA serves as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area and coordinates regional transportation planning. Through this mini-grant initiative, MAPA offers financial and technical assistance to local jurisdictions pursuing community development efforts that align with the long-term regional vision established by Heartland 2050. This program is specifically structured as a set-aside within the Regional Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program. Each year, approximately $330,000 in STBG-MAPA funds are allocated for the Heartland 2050 Mini-Grants. These funds are channeled through the region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), a federally required six-year planning document that identifies projects eligible for federal transportation funding. Projects eligible under this mini-grant must have a transportation nexus and align with broader community development strategies envisioned under Heartland 2050. The primary objective of the program is to support livable, sustainable communities within the MAPA Transportation Management Area (TMA). The Heartland 2050 Vision outlines six focus areas—Economic Development, Education, Health and Safety, Housing and Development, Infrastructure, and Natural Resources—which collectively guide regional investment and policy. Mini-grant funded projects must contribute to one or more of these goals and may include corridor studies, community plans, and policy initiatives that promote compact development, walkability, transit access, and other sustainable urban planning principles. Eligibility for the mini-grant program is limited to local jurisdictions located within Douglas and Sarpy Counties in Nebraska, and the urbanized portion of Pottawattamie County in Iowa. These areas fall within the MAPA-designated TMA, which governs the allocation of regional STBG funds. Applications are typically evaluated based on how well proposed projects align with the Heartland 2050 Vision and contribute to regional transportation and land-use integration. The application process requires jurisdictions to review the latest TIP report on MAPA’s website for guidance on policy and procedures. While specific dates may vary annually, the TIP is updated each federal fiscal year on October 1, with related calls for projects announced and closed before the end of the preceding July. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor the TIP portal for updates on submission windows and policy documentation. For questions or comments regarding the program or TIP participation, applicants may contact MAPA via email at transportation@mapacog.org or by phone at 402-444-6866. MAPA also accepts public comments on TIP amendments and provides a transparent feedback loop to ensure community participation. As of July 2025, award notifications for the FY2026 round were expected before the end of the month, and future rounds are anticipated based on MAPA’s annual planning cycle.