Tennessee Grants

TEAP provides state matching funds to directly support tire recycling, tire derived product use, tire reuse research and development, or processing facility improvements. In 2015, the Tennessee Automotive Association partnered with TDEC and the General Assembly to enact Public Chapter 525 that established the Tire Environmental Fund. Upon the first retail sale of a new motor vehicle that is to be titled and registered in Tennessee, a flat fee based on the number of the vehicle’s wheels is assessed. The fee goes into the Tire Environmental Fund which is used to fund projects creating or supporting beneficial end uses for waste tires.

The TRIP provides assists cities and counties establish their first Parks and Recreation Department with a parks and recreation professional as the Director. The Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program (TRIP) provides grants to those cities and counties currently without a comprehensive parks and recreation delivery system in operation due to lack of staffing and organization. City or county governments. Development of a formal Parks and Recreation Department.

Monetary resources dedicated to assisting communities across the state develop and train entrepreneurs and small business owners in three broad and diverse categories. Combines Previous Microenterprise and Main Street Entrepreneur Grants into one program. Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development encourages entrepreneurship development and adaptive reuse of commercial buildings in accredited Tennessee Main Street communities with a Main Street Entrepreneur Incubator grant program to assist in funding activities that put vacant and/or underutilized buildings into productive service and serve as economic drivers for downtowns. Matching funds are not required but the scoring system rewards projects that include other partners or agencies or additional funding commitments.

ThreeStar promotes economic and community prosperity through collaboration to positively impact every Tennessean. ThreeStar includes a certification process and grant program. Grants are available to support completion of identified ThreeStar SMART goals submitted through the certification process. ThreeStar is a strategic community development program developed to assist communities in preparing for a better future. The ThreeStar program now incorporates asset-based planning initiatives and a two-year timeline to accomplish goals. The asset-based planning component helps communities develop goals to maximize their local assets to drive economic development. Starting in 2019, biennial grants will be available to counties to align with one of the community’s identified goals.

The Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination Program (BEP) assists with the removal of blighted properties in targeted areas within the state of Tennessee. Removing these properties will help to reduce foreclosures, promote neighborhood stabilization, and maintain property values. BEP is designed as a targeted, first come first served program to lend recaptured HHF funds for the demolition and/or acquisition and demolition of blighted one to four unit residential structures in targeted areas to assist in neighborhood stabilization and in preventing foreclosure by helping to stem decline in home values. To be eligible, entities must submit applications that meet BEP requirements and THDA's goals for blight elimination.

Designed to help provide safe and sound housing to households of low income, veterans, seniors, and homeowners with special needs through loans for repairs or improvements. To correct, repair, or replace an essential system and/or critical structural problem for low-income homeowners who are elderly (60+) or disabled. This is not a comprehensive home renovation program; the aim is to stabilize the homeowner's residence by making essential repairs to make the home more livable. If you are a homeowner interested in receiving a grant or loan to rehabilitate your home, please contact your local ERP agency.

Support for presenting touring performing artists and groups for events and festivals in communities across the state, including in rural counties. This grant category supports Tennessee presenters by providing grant funds up to $5,000 to offset the costs of professional artist fees for performing artists and groups that present to the public and offer an educational component with their engagement. Any eligible organization may apply for up to $3,000 of the agreed upon artist’s fees. If an organization or touring artist being presented meets one of the following criteria, the organization may request up to $5,000 of the agreed upon artist’s fees.

Marketing service to connect wood products consumers with Tennessee wood using industry’s primary & secondary producers, artisans & others in the supply chain to increase sales of locally produced & processed wood products. The goal of the Tennessee Wood Products brand is to increase visibility and enhance marketing opportunities for Tennessee’s wood products industry. A primary benefit of this program is to connect consumers of wood products to Tennessee producers and manufacturers through the use of a brand logo that signifies common values and attributes of Tennessee’s abundant, sustainable and quality forest resources, the talented and skilled human resources that service the industry, and the wide diversity of products produced and used in our everyday lives.

This program provides financial support to public, nonprofit, and private fleets in Tennessee to replace or upgrade their transit and shuttle buses with new alternative fuel or all-electric models.

Opportunity for 147 nursing homes to receive training and equipment for therapeutic music program to improve quality of life and care. The Tennessee Person-Centered Music Program (TPCMP) has implemented individualized music as a tool for improving quality of life and healthy outcomes for residents in participating Tennessee nursing homes. Currently 25% of nursing homes throughout the state of Tennessee are offering the program, with over 500 residents participating The Program uses wireless headphones that are loaded with a personalized playlist customized to the preferences and/or needs of each resident TPCMP offers a non-pharmacological, low-cost alternative to medications and helps meet CMS guidelines by promoting the development of person-centered care decision-making

Competitive grant process. Rental housing development program designed to encourage the production and preservation of affordable rental housing. Two competitive grant rounds offered during the spring and fall of each year. THDA's Tennessee Housing Trust Fund Competitive Grants are awarded to agencies for the purpose of developing and/or preserving rental housing for low- and very-low income households, the elderly, and those with special needs. Examples of special needs populations include the disabled, formerly incarcerated individuals, victims of domestic abuse, and youth aging out of foster care.

Forestry programs under the Southern Pine Beetle Initiative were developed to promote long term investments in Tennessee’s pine forests by providing cost share incentives to qualifying landowners. The Southern Pine Beetle Initiative (SPBI) was developed to encourage landowners to proactively manage their pine forest stands and make them more resilient to beetle infestations. Funds are provided by the USDA Forest Service and administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF).

Support for arts projects in underserved, rural communities with special focus on distressed counties. The Targeted Arts Development Initiative (TADI) is a strategy developed to reach counties identified by the Tennessee Arts Commission as under-represented in Commission investments. TADI is designed to build capacity and develop leadership potential, while encouraging applications from the identified counties to existing Commission grant categories or programs. Government and nonprofit entities within identified counties above with projects that use arts and cultural activities to benefit their community, build upon existing assets, or overcome challenges are urged to apply.

Statewide downtown revitalization program for communities that seek designation as Main Street communities. The Main Street movement has been transforming the way communities think about the revitalization and management of their downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts for decades. Specifically, Main Street is three things: a proven strategy for revitalization, a powerful network of linked communities, and a national support program that leads the field. The National Main Street Center is a subsidiary or the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Rebuild and Recover Disaster Program, initiated by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, aims to aid local communities in recovering from weather-related incidents. Eligible incidents include those with significant damage to owner-occupied homes, either without a Presidential Disaster Declaration or with one necessitating federal assistance before completion of a damage assessment. Grants, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, are available to affected city or county governments. Funds can be utilized for rehabilitation, demolition, relocation, and administrative costs. For more details, contact Toni Shaw at [email protected] or refer to the program description and forms provided.

Forestry programs under the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) were developed to promote long term investments in Tennessee’s forests by providing cost share incentives to qualifying landowners. Forestry programs under the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) were developed to promote long term investments in Tennessee’s forests by providing cost share incentives to qualifying landowners. The programs help promote sustainable forest management practices on family forestland, which provide multiple resource benefits such as timber, wildlife habitat, clean water, and soil protection.

EELP launched in the fall of 2010 with the purpose of establishing a low interest revolving loan fund to assist commercial and industrial businesses in implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements, which, in turn, reduce operating costs, improve productivity, and make Tennessee businesses more competitive. In January 2016, EELP was expanded to offer financing to local government entities, including municipalities, counties, school districts, and other public agencies.

LPRF provides matching grants to local governments for purchase of land for parks, natural areas, greenways and recreational facilities and capital projects for recreation in those areas. The Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF) provides grants to eligible local government entities for the purchase of lands for parks, natural areas, greenways, and recreation facilities. The funds may also be used for trail development and capital projects in parks, natural areas, and greenways. At least 60 percent of the funds allocated will go to municipal governments as authorized by TCA 67-4-409. All grant projects must be on publicly owned land.

Provide grants to address water quality impairments from nonpoint source pollution from agriculture and other sources. The ARCF provides cost-share assistance to Tennessee landowners to install Best Management Practices (BMPs) that reduce agricultural water pollution. This assistance is facilitated primarily through Soil and Water Conservation Districts although Resource Conservation and Development Councils, universities, and other agricultural associations may participate.

Credit against federal tax liability for investors in the construction or rehabilitation of affordable rental housing. The Low-Income Housing Credit is a credit against federal income tax liability each year for 10 years for owners and investors in low-income rental housing. The amount of tax credits is based on reasonable costs of development, as determined by THDA, and the number of qualified low-income units.