Funding

Funding and financing opportunities

Funding and financing are a challenge for many TOD projects. This page provides an overview of the most commonly used federal programs. For more detail on these and information about many other funding programs and financing tools for TOD, see the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s resource Infrastructure Financing Options for Transit-Oriented Development.

Grants

Brownfields Cleanup Grants
This EPA grant provides funding to clean up and help redevelop land contaminated by pollutants, contaminants, and other hazardous substances. Read more >>

Capacity Building for Community Development and Housing Grants
This program provides funding for planning, acquisition, construction, and other eligible activities related to affordable housing and community development. Read more >>

Choice Neighborhood Grants
Choice Neighborhood Grants support neighborhoods with distressed public or HUD-assisted housing. Read more >>

Community Development Block Grants
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) can be used for a wide range of development needs, from new construction to façade improvement. Read more >>

HOPE VI Main Street Grants
HOPE VI Main Street Grants provide assistance to smaller communities so that obsolete commercial offices or buildings can be reconfigured into rent-producing affordable housing. Read more >>

Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning
This FTA program provides funding to local communities to integrate land use and transportation planning with a transit capital investment that is seeking or recently received funding through the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program. Read more >>

Tax credits

New Markets Tax Credit
Community Development Entities (CDEs) provide loans, investments, and financial counseling in low-income communities. The New Markets Tax Credit allows investors to deduct 39% of their investment in a CDE from federal income taxes. Read more >>

Historic Tax Credit
A 20% tax credit is available for the rehabilitation of income-producing buildings that are determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be “certified historic structures.” Read more >>

Rehabilitation Tax Credit
A 10% tax credit is available for the rehabilitation of non-historic buildings placed into service before 1936. The building must be rehabilitated for non-residential use. Read more >>

Low Income Housing Tax Credit
The Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) is an indirect federal subsidy that can be used to finance the development of affordable rental housing for low-income households. Read more >>

Loans and financing

Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act
The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program provides loans, loan guarantees, and lines of credit to finance surface transportation projects. Certain development projects including parking garages, property acquisition, and infrastructure for people walking or bicycling are eligible to apply. Read more >>

Railroad Rehabilitation Improvement and Financing
The Railroad Rehabilitation Improvement and Financing (RRIF) program provides direct loans and loan guarantees to finance development of railroad infrastructure. RRIF loans can now also be used to finance commercial and residential development near passenger rail stations. Read more >>

Brownfields Revolving Loan program
The Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund helps finance cleanup activities at brownfield sites. When loans are repaid, the loan amount is returned to the fund and re-lent to other borrowers. Read more >>

Economic Development Administration
The Economic Development Administration provides a number of financing opportunities to help economically distressed communities generate new employment, retain existing jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial growth. Read more >>