Community Economic Development (CED)

Logo for the Community Economic Development Program Community Economic Development (CED) is a federal grant program funding Community Development Corporations that address the economic needs of low-income individuals and families through the creation of sustainable business development and employment opportunities.

The Fiscal Year 2020 grants were awarded on September 30, 2020. View the FY 2020 Grant Award Page to see this year’s new grantees. If you are a 2020 grantee, please review the CED Grantee Toolkit.

CED's projects create employment opportunities that lead to increased self-sufficiency for individuals with low income through a variety of activities, such as:

Capital expenditures such as the purchase of equipment or real property;
Allowable operating expenses; and
Loans or equity investments.

CED funds a variety of projects, including:

Business incubators;
Shopping centers;
Manufacturing businesses; and
Agricultural initiatives.

The CED program was born out of the War on Poverty Visit disclaimer page , which began in 1964 with the Economic Opportunity Act. Learn more in the video, which provides a background and history of the War on Poverty and where we are as a country over 50 years since the effort to expand economic opportunity began.

CED awards funds to private, non-profit organizations that are community development corporations (CDCs), including faith-based organizations, and Tribal and Alaskan Native organizations. CDCs must be governed by a three-party board of directors that includes residents of the community served, and local business and civic leaders. CDCs must have as their principle purpose planning, developing or managing low-income housing or community development projects.

Note: CED funds cannot be awarded to individuals. If you are an individual looking for employment, please view the active CED projects in your state.

Update Regarding COVID-19

On March 30, 2020, ACF issued an Information Memorandum regarding grant flexibilities in conducting human service activities related to or affected by COVID-19. Learn more about how these flexibilities may affect your grant.

Thank you for your continued engagement and partnership with us to address and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We highly value our strong ongoing partnership, and hope to continue to be a resource to you as you implement community mitigation techniques. View this up-to-date information about key issues from a number of HHS divisions.

Notice:

The Community Economic Development (CED) program does not provide direct grants to individuals; CED does not charge a fee for receiving a grant. If you receive a message offering you a CED grant or requesting a fee, please contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Fraud Hotline at 1-800-447-8477.

For more information, please visit the Grant Fraud and Scams Visit disclaimer page site.