Neighborhood Economic Development (NED) Grants are federally-funded grants made to local organizations serving Pittsburgh residents with low and moderate incomes. Only nonprofits working on economic development in eligible census tracts are able to apply for these funds.

NED grants are funded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money, awarded to the City of Pittsburgh from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Registered Community Organizations (RCOS) are invited to apply, as are nonprofits with a letter of support from their neighborhood RCO or City Council Representative. Applications will be reviewed and recommended for funding by the NED Advisory Committee. This Committee is made up of representatives from City Planning, the Mayor's Office, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the City Council Budget Office, and local development experts.

NED projects must further one of the following goals:

1. Main Street Revitalization
2. Affordable Housing Improvements
3. Vacancy Rate Reduction
4. Organizational Development to increase service provision in one of the other three areas

Organizations with less than an average of $75,000 in revenues and expenses over the last three fiscal years are invited to apply for the Capacity Building NED grant.

Starting in 2025, all Neighborhood Economic Development Grant applications will be submitted via Bridgeway software. This system will require creating a free account. Technical assistance is available as needed.

Click here to access the Bridgeway homepage.

Applications can be saved and returned to for later completion in the Bridgeway software.

Or watch the video on YouTube here. The slides are also available to download.

The Office of Management and Budget, Community Development division will also hold two virtual Q&A sessions for potential applicants.

If you have additional questions, please email community.development@pittsburghpa.gov

Organizations seeking NED funds must:

• Be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with
  • A Board of Directors
  • Articles of Incorporation
  • Written bylaws
  • A mission that supports City of Pittsburgh residents
• Be actively working in affordable housing, vacancy reduction, or small business technical assistance
• Demonstrate financial management capacity
• Have filed an IRS Form 990 (990-N, 990-EZ, or 990) last year
• Have a SAM.gov profile with a Unique Entity ID (UEI) and active registration
  • Additional information on navigating this process is available on the City's website
• Have no outstanding financial liabilities with the City of Pittsburgh, or demonstrate an approved payment plan
• Have current general liability insurance
• Have current worker's compensation insurance (only required if organization has paid staff)

Projects must benefit at least one eligible census tract

Projects must further at least one of the following goals:

• Main Street Revitalization
• Affordable Housing Improvements
• Vacancy Rate Reduction
• Organizational Development

Common Expenses

• Personnel (staff wages and benefits)
• Insurance, rent, and utilities
• Professional services
• Program supplies

Ineligible Expenses

• Construction
• Acquisition of real estate
• Direct payments to beneficiaries
• Food or merchandise ("swag")
• One-time events

The Office of Management and Budget – Community Development team will review all applications for eligibility, then present the applications to the NED Advisory Committee. Applicants will be scored according to the scoring rubric agreed upon by the NED Advisory Committee. The rubric can be found here.

The NED Advisory Committee will invite up to 20 organizations to give a short presentation on their projects and answer any questions the Committee has. From these 20 organizations, the Committee will select at least 13 to recommend for funding. These recommendations will be passed on to City Council for the final funding decision.

The Community Development office expects that elected officials will make and officially legislate their grant determinations in late Fall. Due to programmatic changes, contracts will not begin until January 2026. This means your organization will not be able to request reimbursement for 2025 expenses.

Applicants can keep visiting this webpage for updates on the review process.