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Housing department releases $5 million Project Connect solicitation for nonprofits; technical assistance offered
Summary
The Housing Department briefed the Community Development Commission on a $5 million solicitation for community-initiated solutions (CIS) focused on economic mobility within Project Connect corridors. The solicitation is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits through June 13; awards are expected between $500,000 and $2 million.
City Housing Department staff briefed the Community Development Commission on May 13 about a $5 million solicitation for Community Initiated Solutions (CIS) aimed at advancing economic mobility for people living near Project Connect corridors.
Marcela Henderson, Project Manager with the Housing Department, said the solicitation was released in April and remains open through June 13 at 5 p.m. The department is soliciting proposals from 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and will provide technical assistance through a capacity partner, Mission Capital. Henderson emphasized a no-contact period between staff and applicants while the solicitation is open; Mission Capital will offer application review, feedback on project alignment, and help with work plans and timelines.
Division Manager Marla Dorado provided context on funding sources. She said that for years 3–5 of the anti-displacement funds, the city allocated $75 million (part of a multi-year Project Connect funding plan that totals roughly $300 million across years 1–13). Within years 3–5, $15.9 million had been assigned for CIS and related programming: $10.9 million was already awarded to eight existing organizations; the remaining $5.0 million is being released for this round. Dorado also summarized broader funding buckets: roughly $43 million for land acquisition and preservation, $14 million for affordable housing development and $14 million for programming (the programming bucket is where the current $5 million solicitation sits).
Henderson said the CIS solicitation prioritizes projects that advance economic mobility for people within one mile of Project Connect corridors and noted prior priority themes included renter stabilization and home resilience. The minimum request amount is $500,000; the maximum is $2,000,000. Staff said they anticipate awarding roughly three grants but could award between one and five depending on proposals.
Commissioners asked about eligibility (new and existing organizations are eligible), deliverables, and whether funding could be used for planning or assessments; staff said proposed projects should lay out workplans and timelines and that applicants could include an initial evaluation or planning phase as part of their proposed work. Henderson offered to share the solicitation website and noted the department will email commission members with detailed information and links to past awardees and a spending dashboard.
Why it matters: The solicitation represents one piece of Project Connect anti-displacement funding focused on community-led programs to support residents facing increasing costs near transit investments. The availability of technical assistance increases access for smaller or newly formed nonprofits.
Next steps: Staff will send commissioners an email with the solicitation link, a list of previous awardees, and a dashboard showing spending of anti-displacement funds. The solicitation closes June 13; applicants must follow the posted timelines and use the department’s technical assistance resources if needed.
