Complete the application before spending down funds on community engagement activities.

Please complete the application before beginning to spend down the funds.  All applications must be approved before funds are used.

The People Energizing Places (PEP) Grant and the Strategic Teams Engaging Places (STEP) Grant were created to meet the growing need for advanced training and assistance within Missouri Main Street communities. Recognizing the challenges faced by Main Street organizations, these grants aim to provide structured support to elevate local revitalization efforts.

PEP Grant: This two-year grant offers comprehensive services with a 75/25 matching structure, where the community contributes 25% of the total cost, amounting to $9,600. The grant focuses on advanced training and development, positioning Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) as a vital partner in advancing your Main Street program.

STEP Grant: This one-year grant emphasizes sustainable revitalization through expert guidance and individualized training. Like the PEP Grant, it operates on a 75/25 matching basis, with the community responsible for 25% of the costs, totaling $5,000. The program is designed to enhance downtown development and strategic initiatives.

By applying for either grant, your organization will partner with Missouri Main Street Connection to achieve greater effectiveness and impact, ensuring continued success in your Main Street endeavors.

The Missouri Main Street program does sometimes offer financial grants to designated Main Street programs in Missouri, but that is not part of either the People Energizing Places or Strategic Teams Engaging People Grant participants. As noted in application document, extensive technical assistance and training will be provided by MMSC as its share of the Matching Grant and contracted downtown revitalization consultants may be brought in to assist with training and paid for by MMSC. 

CLOSEOUT REPORT

Initial Grant Info:

2025 BPC Graduation Anchor Grant Guidelines - $20,000

This grant is to support the staff time needed to implement this initiative and the strategic plan. As part of this program, you will be designating an ‘Anchor Organization’ that will continue the momentum of the plan through its implementation. This grant work is meant to help you begin to manage operations of an organization that would manage moving these initiatives forward by keeping budgets and tracking projects.

If multiple organizations are going to be dedicating staff to the plan implementation, that is allowed but must be noted in the budget provided in the application. Fringe benefits are allowable expenses. Teams may want to consider service agreements or MOUs to document the employment relationship that your team may have with the individual that will be receiving these funds. Fiscal sponsor and grant recipient(s) are responsible for coordinating and tracking any relevant tax responsibilities.  Please provide appropriate W9 information to the fiscal agent.

Your community team will have to demonstrate how you approved this grant usage, either with meeting minutes or a written note on how the decision was decided upon. 

Timeline

• Portal opening 11/18 for submissions

• Submissions due 12/1

• Funds released by December end.

• Grant closeout will be due early June 2026

Budget Template: Download Here.

Related Project Report: Download Here.

Example: Download Here.

2025 BPC Project Grant Application Closeout - $10,000

Due June 30, 2026

Details from original grant application:

· Amount - $10,000

Eligible Uses

· Must be a visible project or initiative that can be celebrated or showcased and helps build momentum in your community for the initiative.

o Examples: community garden, familiarization tour, arts projects, placemaking, beautification, youth activities, open space utilization, murals, wayfinding, or streetscape activities.

· Must be in alignment with the potential Blueprint strategic planning goals for your community.

· Teams must work with their community coaches to discuss funding ideas, how to be strategic with project funding ideas, how to leverage funds, and any alternative or additional funding sources available.

Teams must track/collect (for reporting)

o Photos (smiling faces, projects in action, before-and-after photos) to submit with the final report. At least five. High-resolution images.

o A story to local or regional media that highlights the project- provide press release.

o Volunteer details – number of volunteers & hours.

o Budget – Income – if additional funding available & Expenses

Missouri Main Street provides technical assistance and training to communities competitively selected for the Missouri Main Street Community Empowerment Grant Program. Through the Missouri Main Street Program, intensive on-site assistance and training are provided to grant recipients. This is a 70/30 cost-share grant. The value of the grant for the two-year period is $44,110 in services. Seventy percent (70%) is contributed in services by the Missouri Main Street Program; Thirty percent (30%) is contributed in cash, $13,233, by the participating City/Town, or the sponsoring organization, to MMSC at the beginning of the grant period.

General Selection Criteria:

The following general criteria will be used to evaluate all Missouri Main Street Connection applications.

• A strong commitment from local government and various private sector organizations to support the local revitalization program for a minimum of two (2) years.
• An adequate local budget and/or evidence of a fund-raising commitment to finance the local revitalization      program for a minimum of two (2) years.
• A commitment by the community to hire paid staff in the future. For communities under 5,000 in population, the director must be paid for a minimum of 25 hours per week. For communities over 5,000 in population, the director must be paid for a minimum of 40 hours per week. Salaries should be comparable to other economic development professionals in the area. The Missouri Main Street Connection Board of Directors may grant exemptions for special circumstances following a written request by the program. Third-party contracts for management services would need to be approved by MMSC before the contract is signed.
• The community must demonstrate the need for community revitalization.
• The community must demonstrate the possibility of change in the district as a result of participating in the Missouri Main Street Program.
• The community must have a definable commercial area with historic architectural resources.
• Evidence of a local historic preservation ethic and activity, and the existence of architecturally significant buildings in the revitalization program area currently listed on or may be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
• Current community demographics, such as the mix of businesses, housing, size, and location of the proposed revitalization program district, as related to the entire community.
• The community must commit to forming a public-benefit, not-for-profit corporation within two (2) years, designed to serve as the governing body for the local revitalization program, with the commitment to maintain a volunteer board and working committees.
• A commitment by board members, committees, staff, and municipal government to attend training sessions and workshops conducted by MMSC.
•  A financial commitment of $13,233, payable to Missouri Main Street Connection, Inc. for services provided during a two (2) year period, beginning when the contract for services is signed by all parties.

If you have any questions about this application, contact: Ben White, Community Development Division Manager, Missouri Main Street Connection, Inc. at (816) 560-1722 or by email at ben@momainstreet.org.

This interface is intended to assist you in reporting on the development of your Active Transportation Plan to WalkWorks. It will document your work and the way the grants funds are being applied.

For subsequent submissions, to the extent that any one of the activities has been completed and reflected in an earlier report or is not relevant to the period on which you are reporting, there is no need to address it again.