The Heartland 2050 Mini-Grant Program is an initiative administered by the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) to support local jurisdictions in advancing the Heartland 2050 Vision—a regional strategy aimed at creating vibrant, livable communities through sustainable planning and development. The mini-grants are funded as a set-aside from MAPA’s Regional Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program, which is federally supported through the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. The program is integrated into MAPA’s broader Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which outlines a six-year plan for federally funded transportation projects in the region.
The program specifically allocates approximately $330,000 annually to support planning and implementation projects within MAPA’s Transportation Management Area (TMA). Projects funded under this mini-grant initiative are intended to align with the Heartland 2050 Vision’s focus on sustainable development, compact land use, and multimodal transportation options. Eligible uses of funds include corridor studies, transportation planning, and community policy initiatives that further the goals of reducing sprawl, enhancing mobility, and improving quality of life.
Eligibility for the mini-grant program is geographically restricted to communities within Douglas and Sarpy Counties in Nebraska and the urbanized portion of Pottawattamie County in Iowa. Projects must support implementation efforts outlined by Heartland 2050 Implementation Committees and are typically geared toward local governments seeking technical or financial assistance for transportation-related planning activities.
For the FY2027 TIP cycle, the call for projects opened on October 29, 2025, and will remain open until January 17, 2026. Interested applicants can apply either for amendments to existing projects under the Surface Transportation Block Grant, Transportation Alternatives, or Carbon Reduction programs, or submit proposals for new projects specifically under the Heartland 2050 Mini-Grant Program. Applications are reviewed by selection committees and go through a public comment period before final awards are approved and announced.
The application process includes the submission of a proposal via the TIP page, with review stages involving public feedback, committee evaluations, and formal incorporation into MAPA’s TIP document. Key dates include application submission by January 17, 2026, and award notification by July 11, 2026. Applicants may direct inquiries to MAPA via email at transportation@mapacog.org or by calling 402-444-6866.
This grant opportunity recurs annually and follows a consistent schedule, with the next anticipated open date in October 2026. The performance period typically aligns with MAPA’s TIP funding cycle, and selected projects are incorporated into a regionally adopted transportation strategy for funding and implementation.
