APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED
On this page: Guidelines, Program Background, Applicant Resources

Online applications for the Development and Preservation Fund fall cycle were accepted August 1st–September 1st. Funding decisions will be announced at the end of November. This round is generously funded in partnership with the City of Omaha, whose investment of $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds is being matched through philanthropic contributions to Front Porch Investments.

For this cycle, eligible request types included: short-term and long-term loans for affordable housing projects within the City of Omaha; and one-time operating grants for Omaha-based, Omaha-serving housing-supporting nonprofits.

Please note: Funding cycles are competitive. Applications go through a multi-stage review process, including rigorous underwriting for loan applications. Submitting a loan and/or grant application does not guarantee funding.

GUIDELINES FOR FALL 2023  ^{Note: Applications are now closed}

Visit the following pages for detailed information about each funding opportunity.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

The Development and Preservation Fund was created in alignment with recommendations provided by the Omaha and Council Bluffs Area Assessment of Housing Affordability, Needs, & Priorities report. As identified in the assessment, the broad goals of the fund are to:

• Provide gap financing for the development of new affordable housing, including mixed-income rental housing, the creation of affordable housing in areas near job centers and transit, and transformative "catalyst" projects in neighborhoods undergoing broader revitalization efforts
• Provide needed gap financing to preserve and improve the quality of at-risk dedicated affordable rental housing, as well as "naturally occurring" affordable housing properties in deteriorating condition or at risk of conversion to market rate

Additional investment priorities for the Development and Preservation Fund include increasing housing ecosystem capacity; increasing accessibility; increasing housing stability; expanding housing options; supporting equity and housing justice; supporting innovation and best practices; and supporting collaborative partnerships.

The first round of funding launched in August 2022 through a partnership between Front Porch Investments and the City of Omaha, who invested $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that are being matched by $20 million in philanthropic contributions. These funds are being allocated across multiple biannual funding cycles, with the second round of funding awarded in May 2023.

APPLICANT RESOURCES

Additional Materials and Links

1. Submittable Instructions – navigating the online portal
2. FPI Priorities – resident, project, and property characteristics
3. GIS Mapping Tool – to identify QCTs and proximity to transit and employment centers
4. City Limits Map – to confirm project location is within boundaries of the City of Omaha
5. Area Median Income (AMI) Limits Chart – effective June 15, 2023
6. What is a Planning Grant? – FPI blog
7. Small and Emerging Business (SEB) Directory/Search – City of Omaha Human Rights and Relations

Language Accessibility

We have installed a plug-in for language translation on our website, which is positioned at the top right of this page. Application preview documents will be provided in both Spanish and English. Transcripts will be provided each cycle for funding information videos, which will include auto-generated closed captions in English. Word (docx) versions of additional materials can be shared upon request for independent translation.

If additional language assistance or accessibility supports are needed to apply, please email Tess at tess@omahafoundation.org. We proudly partner with World Speaks for translation services, and Front Porch will cover the cost of pre-approved services during application periods. 

ARPA Information^*

1. General Overview
2. Procurement Guidelines – for long-term loan projects that involve contracting/subcontracting
3. Affordable Housing How-To Guide – How to Use State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for Affordable Housing Production and Preservation (U.S. Department of the Treasury)
4. Compliance and Reporting Guidance – State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Guidance on Recipient Compliance and Reporting Responsibilities (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

*We suggest independent review by legal experts.