Accessibility, facilities and community infrastructure
50 answers. Written by the celerfunding.com editorial team from official sources. Each answer shows where it applies and when its sources were read.
Is the Enabling Accessibility Fund open for applications?
As of 1 November 2026, the 2026 contribution call that the research cites is closed. It ended on March 16, 2026. Future or component-specific calls should not be assumed.
The Enabling Accessibility Fund supports eligible infrastructure and technology accessibility projects. Under that 2026 call, eligible applicants included nonprofits (including social enterprises), for-profits with up to 99 employees, Indigenous organizations and qualifying municipal and territorial governments. Rules generally required employment of a person with disabilities, except for Indigenous applicants. Residential housing managers, public schools and health institutions, and certain government-controlled entities were excluded. Do not reuse those conditions for every component.
Applications used the GCOS portal.
Next step: watch the official EAF page for the next call and read its eligibility rules before preparing a project.
Next: Enabling Accessibility Fund
Sources (read 2026-10-31): EAF; eligibility; GCOS submission
What is USDA Community Facilities funding for rural projects?
It is a USDA Rural Development program of direct loans, grants or a combination for essential community facilities in eligible rural areas.
Eligible applicants include community-based nonprofit corporations, public bodies and federally recognized Tribes. Facilities must serve rural communities of no more than 20,000 residents. Examples include clinics, childcare, food banks and community centers. Private commercial undertakings are not the target.
Financial need, repayment and security for loans, community support and environmental review apply. The program page states year-round intake, but grant availability and share depend on funding, population and income.
Applicants work with a local or state USDA Rural Development office, with UEI and SAM steps and program forms.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: contact your USDA Rural Development state office.
Next: USDA Community Facilities
Sources (read 2026-10-31): USDA Community Facilities
Can an SBA 504 loan buy or renovate a building for my business?
The SBA names purchase, construction or renovation of existing buildings or land as an eligible use of a 504 loan. It is repayable, long-term, fixed-rate financing, not a grant.
SBA also lists long-term machinery and equipment with at least ten years of remaining useful life. The business must be an operating, for-profit U.S. business that meets SBA size standards, with qualified management, a feasible plan, good character and the ability to repay.
The SBA page gives a maximum amount of $5 million in one place and $5.5 million in another, so confirm the current limit with a lender. Loans come only through Certified Development Companies working with a senior lender.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: find a CDC and ask it to screen your project before you sign a purchase contract.
Next: SBA 504 loans
Related: Can SBA 504 loans be used for working capital or inventory?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): SBA 504
Can SBA 504 loans be used for working capital or inventory?
No. The SBA lists working capital and inventory as ineligible uses of a 504 loan.
The 504 product is built for major fixed assets, such as land, buildings and long-lived equipment. If you need cash for payroll, stock or day-to-day costs, a different product is needed, and that product has its own rules and costs.
SBA also excludes speculation or investment in rental real estate, and debt consolidation or refinancing that does not meet its "qualified debt" definition.
Because the loan is repayable, compare total cost and payment terms before choosing any product for short-term cash needs.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: list what the money will pay for, then ask a lender or CDC whether each item fits 504 or needs another route.
Next: SBA 504 loans
Related: Can an SBA 504 loan buy or renovate a building for my business?; Can I refinance existing debt with an SBA 504 loan?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): SBA 504
Can I refinance existing debt with an SBA 504 loan?
Only in limited cases. SBA allows 504 funds to consolidate debt under conditions in 13 CFR 120.882(e), and to repay or refinance "qualified debt" under 13 CFR 120.882(g).
Debt that does not meet the qualified-debt definition cannot be consolidated, repaid or refinanced with a 504 loan. The SBA page does not summarise those conditions, so the regulation text and a CDC are the places to check.
Refinancing rarely suits every borrower. Prepayment charges, fees and a new repayment schedule can change the cost.
Nothing here predicts approval or savings. Next step: send your current loan documents to a CDC and ask in writing whether the debt is qualified under the regulation.
Next: SBA 504 loans
Related: Can SBA 504 loans be used for working capital or inventory?; What is a Certified Development Company (CDC) in SBA 504 lending?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): SBA 504
What is a Certified Development Company (CDC) in SBA 504 lending?
A CDC is a community-based nonprofit that SBA certifies and regulates. It originates 504 loans together with a senior lender.
The SBA page states that 504 loans are available exclusively through CDCs. A borrower therefore cannot apply to SBA directly for a 504 loan.
The page does not give the percentage split between the CDC portion and the senior lender, so do not assume one. Ask the CDC to set out each party's share, rate and fees in writing.
CDCs serve specific areas, so the right one depends on where the project is located.
A CDC is not a CELER service and nothing here predicts approval. Next step: use SBA's lender and CDC finder to contact a CDC near your project.
Next: SBA 504 loans
Related: Can I refinance existing debt with an SBA 504 loan?; Can a nonprofit or charity use an SBA 504 loan to buy a building?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): SBA 504
Can a nonprofit or charity use an SBA 504 loan to buy a building?
Probably not on the basis of the SBA 504 page alone. It describes eligible borrowers as operating, for-profit U.S. businesses that meet SBA size standards.
That wording does not mention nonprofits. A nonprofit should therefore not assume 504 is open to it. Facility financing for nonprofits more often comes from community lenders, CDFIs, USDA programs for rural essential facilities, or local government channels, each with its own rules.
A nonprofit that runs a real business activity may still ask a CDC, but the CDC decides whether any SBA rule applies.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: ask a CDC in writing whether your organization type qualifies, and compare a CDFI option in parallel.
Next: Nonprofit funding
Related: What is a Certified Development Company (CDC) in SBA 504 lending?; What is the New Markets Tax Credit and how does it help finance buildings?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): SBA 504
What is the New Markets Tax Credit and how does it help finance buildings?
The New Markets Tax Credit is a federal program that gives tax credits to investors who make equity investments in low-income communities. It is meant to draw private capital into distressed communities.
The credit totals 39 percent of the original investment and is claimed over seven years. Allocations go to certified Community Development Entities, which are financial intermediaries. A project then receives NMTC-enhanced financing from a CDE.
The credit goes to the investor, not to the project owner, and it is not a grant. Deals are complex and usually have legal and accounting costs.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: read the CDFI Fund page, then ask an accountant or lawyer whether your project is a realistic fit.
Next: NMTC program
Related: Can a nonprofit or charity use an SBA 504 loan to buy a building?; Can my business or nonprofit apply directly for New Markets Tax Credits?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): New Markets Tax Credit Program
Can my business or nonprofit apply directly for New Markets Tax Credits?
No, not as a direct application for the credit. The CDFI Fund says CDE certification is for community development financing intermediaries, not for businesses.
A business that wants NMTC-enhanced financing should contact CDEs directly. The CDFI Fund points to a map of awardee states served to help find a CDE for your area.
The CDFI Fund page does not define the low-income community test. It refers readers to eligibility guidance and the notice of allocation availability, so confirm whether your site qualifies there.
The page does not address nonprofits specifically.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: check the map for CDEs serving your state and ask each one about project size and fit.
Next: NMTC program
Related: What is the New Markets Tax Credit and how does it help finance buildings?; What types of EPA Brownfields grants exist?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): New Markets Tax Credit Program
What types of EPA Brownfields grants exist?
EPA lists several: assessment, cleanup, revolving loan fund, job training, technical assistance, and state and tribal response funding. Multipurpose grants exist as a type, but EPA says it will not issue them in FY 2027.
Assessment grants fund inventories, planning and environmental assessments. Cleanup grants fund cleanup at sites the applicant owns. Revolving loan fund grants capitalize a fund that makes loans and subgrants for cleanup. Job training grants go to nonprofits, local governments and other eligible organizations.
The EPA page does not say whether for-profit businesses can receive any of these grants, and it refers readers to separate eligibility pages.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: open EPA's eligibility page for the grant type you want and check your entity type first.
Next: EPA Brownfields grants
Related: Can my business or nonprofit apply directly for New Markets Tax Credits?; How much can an EPA Brownfields cleanup grant provide and what match is needed?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Types of Brownfields grant funding
How much can an EPA Brownfields cleanup grant provide and what match is needed?
An applicant may request up to $500,000 to address one or more sites. A waiver up to $650,000 exists for one-site applicants, but EPA approves it on an extremely limited basis.
The performance period is up to four years, and an applicant may submit only one cleanup application per competition cycle. Recipients must provide a 20 percent match in money, labor, materials or services.
Government entities serving 50,000 or fewer people, Tribes, eligible Tribal entities and nonprofits may request a hardship waiver of the match.
These figures are from EPA's page as of 1 November 2026 and can change each competition. Cleanup grants fund sites the applicant owns.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: read the current notice of funding opportunity before you plan a budget.
Next: EPA Brownfields grants
Related: What types of EPA Brownfields grants exist?; Can my small business claim the federal Disabled Access Credit?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Types of Brownfields grant funding
Can my small business claim the federal Disabled Access Credit?
Possibly. The IRS says the credit is for small businesses that earned $1 million or less, or had no more than 30 full-time employees, in the previous year.
It is a non-refundable tax credit, not a grant, and it can be claimed every year the business has access expenditures. It is claimed on Form 8826, which feeds Form 3800, the General Business Credit.
The IRS page used here does not state the credit percentage or its maximum, so do not assume them. Eligible expenditure definitions also matter.
A tax credit reduces tax owed. It will not help if you owe little tax.
This is information, not tax advice. Next step: ask a tax professional and read the Form 8826 instructions for the current year.
Next: IRS disability tax benefits
Related: How much can an EPA Brownfields cleanup grant provide and what match is needed?; Is there a tax deduction for removing architectural barriers?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Tax benefits for businesses with employees with disabilities
Is there a tax deduction for removing architectural barriers?
Yes. The IRS describes a deduction of up to $15,000 per year for qualified barrier-removal expenses that would normally have to be capitalized.
A business can use the deduction together with the Disabled Access Credit in the same year. The deduction equals the total expenditures minus the credit claimed.
The IRS page does not name a specific form for the deduction. It says the business claims it as a separate expense on its income tax return.
A deduction lowers taxable income. It is not a grant and does not pay for the work up front.
This is information, not tax advice. Next step: keep invoices and plans for the work and ask a tax professional how to report it for your tax year.
Next: IRS disability tax benefits
Related: Can my small business claim the federal Disabled Access Credit?; Does the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund pay for renovations?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Tax benefits for businesses with employees with disabilities
Does the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund pay for renovations?
Yes, renovations and purchases of specialized arts or heritage equipment are the project types Canadian Heritage names for the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.
The program aims to improve the physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation. It does not accept infrastructure planning and design documents, feasibility studies or facility assessments. Construction projects are generally not accepted, though exceptional circumstances may apply.
The page did not state funding limits or ineligible costs beyond those project types, and says the program is undergoing changes, with more information to come.
As of 1 November 2026, the page said applications are accepted continuously while funds remain.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: call a Canadian Heritage program advisor before applying.
Next: Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
Related: Is there a tax deduction for removing architectural barriers?; Who can apply to the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
Who can apply to the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund?
Not-for-profit arts or heritage organizations, certain governments and Indigenous governing bodies. For-profit entities and individuals are ineligible.
Canadian Heritage lists incorporated not-for-profit arts or heritage organizations active for over two years with an arts or heritage mandate. It also lists provincial or territorial governments, municipalities and their agencies, including post-secondary institutions with a history of supporting arts or heritage, and First Nations, Inuit or Métis governing bodies or agencies.
Ineligible: federal departments and agencies, federal Crown corporations, unincorporated organizations, for-profits and individuals.
The program may give priority to rural or remote, Indigenous, equity-seeking and official language minority applicants.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: check the guidelines, then call the program line before applying.
Next: Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
Related: Does the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund pay for renovations?; What is the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund timeline and deadline?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
What is the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund timeline and deadline?
There is no set deadline. Canadian Heritage says applications are accepted continuously while funds remain.
Projects must be completed before March 31, 2028. The page says no applications are accepted for projects that begin in, or have expenses after, April 1, 2028. Check that your project schedule fits that window before you start planning.
The page also says the program is undergoing changes, with more information to be shared later. Treat the dates as of 1 November 2026 and re-check them.
To apply, contact a program officer or advisor at the nearest Canadian Heritage regional office first. The program phone line is 1-866-811-0055.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: call the advisor and ask whether your timeline works.
Next: Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
Related: Who can apply to the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund?; Can a for-profit company get USDA Community Facilities funding?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
Can a for-profit company get USDA Community Facilities funding?
Usually not. The USDA page names community-based nonprofit corporations, public bodies and federally recognized Tribes as applicants, and says private commercial undertakings are not the target.
The program funds essential community facilities such as clinics, childcare, food banks and community centers in eligible rural areas of up to 20,000 residents. A for-profit that runs a clinic or childcare site should not assume it qualifies. A partnership with a nonprofit or public body may be possible, but USDA decides.
Financial need, repayment and security for loans, community support and environmental review apply.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: contact your USDA Rural Development state office and describe the owner, the facility and who it serves.
Next: USDA Community Facilities
Related: What is the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund timeline and deadline?; Do Enabling Accessibility Fund rules apply to every funding component?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): USDA Community Facilities
Do Enabling Accessibility Fund rules apply to every funding component?
No. The 2026 contribution call rules should not be reused for every EAF component or later call.
The 2026 call required, in general, employment of a person with disabilities, except for Indigenous applicants. Non-Indigenous projects were workplace-focused. Residential housing managers, public schools and health institutions, and certain government-controlled entities were excluded.
Those conditions came from the 2026 call, which closed on March 16, 2026. Other components or future calls may set different applicants, project types and limits.
As of 1 November 2026, no open call was confirmed in the sources read.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: when a new call appears, read its eligibility page, not an old summary.
Next: Enabling Accessibility Fund
Related: Can a for-profit company get USDA Community Facilities funding?; How did applicants submit to the Enabling Accessibility Fund 2026 call?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): EAF; eligibility
How did applicants submit to the Enabling Accessibility Fund 2026 call?
They applied through the Grants and Contributions Online Services portal, known as GCOS.
The ESDC page for the 2026 contribution call described GCOS as the submission route. That call closed on March 16, 2026, so this describes how the last call worked, not a current opening.
If a new call is announced, expect the process, forms and documents to be set out on the new call page. Do not assume they will match 2026.
Nothing here predicts approval. Next step: watch the ESDC EAF page, and set up the account steps only after the next call is announced and its instructions are read.
Next: Enabling Accessibility Fund
Related: Do Enabling Accessibility Fund rules apply to every funding component?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): EAF; GCOS submission
Can a church or other faith-based group get federal funds for a facility project?
Yes, in principle: under HUD rules, faith-based organizations are eligible on the same basis as any other organization for HUD programs they otherwise qualify for. HUD and the bodies that run its programs may not favour or disfavour an applicant because of its religious character.
There is a limit. Direct federal assistance cannot support explicitly religious activities such as worship, religious instruction or proselytization. A faith group can still run an eligible program in its own space, and it does not have to remove religious art or symbols to do so.
This rule covers HUD programs only. Other agencies, and Canadian programs, have their own rules, so check each program's guide.
If the building is also used for worship, ask the program office how costs would be split before you plan the budget. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: read the program notice and ask the administering office about mixed-use space.
Next: Nonprofit funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 24 CFR 5.109 Equal participation of faith-based organizations in HUD programs
Can CDBG money help a nonprofit build or renovate a community facility?
Sometimes, but the money flows through a city, county or state, not straight to the nonprofit. HUD's Community Development Block Grant rules list public facilities and improvements as an eligible activity. That includes acquiring, building, rebuilding or rehabilitating them, and the work can be carried out by the recipient or by public or private nonprofit entities.
Facilities for people with special needs, such as shelters, are treated as public facilities. A nonprofit that owns such a facility must keep it open to the general public during normal hours of operation.
The local government sets its own priorities, application windows and award sizes, and each project must meet a national objective.
So the practical step is to talk to your local CDBG office. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: find your city or county's CDBG plan and ask about public facility funding.
Next: US funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 24 CFR 570.201 Basic eligible activities (CDBG)
Can a federal grant pay interest on a loan used to build or buy a building?
Sometimes. Under the federal grant rules in 2 CFR 200.449, interest on borrowed money is generally unallowable, but financing costs, including interest, to acquire, construct or replace capital assets are allowed if the rule's conditions are met.
The asset must be used to support federal awards, and the cost must be reasonable. The rules also limit what can be claimed in some cases. For debt arrangements over $1 million to buy or build facilities, extra conditions apply unless you put in at least 25 percent of the cost yourself. These can reduce the interest you may claim.
This rule applies only if the awarding agency's own program does not say otherwise. Some programs, such as USDA community facility grants, bar interest outright.
Ask the program officer in writing before you plan on interest being covered. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: read the cost principles in your award terms.
Next: More answers
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 2 CFR 200.449 Interest; 7 CFR 3570.63 Grant limitations (Community Facilities Grants)
Can grant money pay for building repairs, or only for improvements?
Under the federal grant cost principles, repairs and upkeep that keep a building in efficient operating condition are allowable. Costs for improvements that add permanent value or appreciably prolong the building's life must be treated as capital expenditures instead.
That difference matters because capital expenditures often need prior approval from the funder, and some programs fund only capital work or only operating work. Utilities, insurance, security, janitorial work and necessary maintenance fall on the repair side, but only to the extent they are not already paid through rent or another agreement.
The rule is in 2 CFR 200.452, which covers most US federal awards. Individual programs can be stricter, and Canadian funders use their own definitions.
Before you budget, ask the funder how it classifies your work. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: sort your quote into repair and capital lines and send it to the program officer.
Next: More answers
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 2 CFR 200.452 Maintenance and repair costs
Can a charity use grant money to buy a building?
Only if the specific funder allows it. Under US federal rules, buying a building or land with award funds generally needs prior written approval.
The federal uniform rules say buildings, land and general-purpose equipment can be charged as direct costs only with prior written approval from the agency or pass-through entity. Improvements that raise value or extend useful life also need approval. Capital expenditures cannot be charged as indirect costs. After purchase, the property must keep serving the authorized purpose and cannot be sold or encumbered without agency permission.
Private foundations and Canadian programs set their own rules, and many exclude property purchases.
Next step: read the funding notice, ask the funder in writing, and plan for use restrictions before committing to a purchase.
Next: More answers
Related: What happens if I sell a building bought with grant money?; What costs are usually ineligible in capital grants?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 2 CFR 200.439 Equipment and other capital expenditures; 2 CFR 200.311 Real property
Do government capital grants require matching funds?
Many do, but it depends on the program. There is no single rule for all capital grants.
Under the federal uniform rules, cost sharing means costs paid by the recipient or third parties rather than the federal award. It can be cash or third-party in-kind. Agencies must accept it if it is verifiable, necessary, allowable, in the approved budget where required, and not counted toward another federal award. Donated land and buildings are generally valued at the lesser of remaining book value or fair market value. The rules discourage using cost sharing to rank applicants unless the funding notice says so.
Whether a share is mandatory is set by the program's statute or notice.
Next step: check the notice's match section and keep records proving each contribution.
Next: More answers
Related: Can a charity use grant money to buy a building?; What costs are usually ineligible in capital grants?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 2 CFR 200.306 Cost sharing or matching
What limits does CDBG put on rehabilitating a for-profit business building?
CDBG can reach commercial buildings, but it is tightly limited when the owner is a private for-profit business. HUD's rule lets CDBG money finance rehabilitation of publicly or privately owned commercial or industrial buildings. For a building owned by a for-profit business, though, the work is limited to exterior improvements, asbestos hazard abatement, lead-based paint hazard evaluation and reduction, and correcting code violations.
Nonprofit-owned nonresidential buildings that do not qualify as public facilities can also be rehabilitated.
CDBG is administered by cities, counties and states, which choose what to fund and set their own rules. Many run facade or storefront programs, but not all do.
Contact your local community development office to see what exists. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: ask whether your local CDBG plan includes commercial rehabilitation.
Next: US funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 24 CFR 570.202 Eligible rehabilitation and preservation activities
Do Davis-Bacon wage rules apply when federal money pays for construction?
Often yes. The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts require contractors and subcontractors on covered projects to pay workers no less than the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits for similar work. The Department of Labor sets those rates.
The base Act covers federal contracts over $2,000 for building or repairing public buildings or public works. Related Acts extend the same rule to projects that federal agencies help finance through grants, loans, loan guarantees and insurance, but each program's law decides whether it applies.
For contracts over $100,000, overtime of one and one-half times the regular rate is also required for hours beyond 40 a week.
The cost of these wages can raise your project budget. Ask the funder early whether your award is covered, and get contractor quotes that include the rates. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: confirm coverage with the program office before you sign construction contracts.
Next: More answers
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Davis-Bacon and Related Acts
Can I get funding for solar panels on my business building in Canada?
The tax route read here is accelerated depreciation, not a grant, and the page does not confirm that solar equipment qualifies.
The Canada Revenue Agency lists Classes 43.1 and 43.2 for clean energy generation and conservation equipment, at 30 percent and 50 percent capital cost allowance rates. Class 43.2 applies only to property acquired before 2025. Some changes have been proposed for property acquired after November 17, 2025, and enhanced first-year allowances are phasing out and under proposal.
This lowers taxable income over time. It does not pay for the system. Provincial rebates and utility programs may exist but were not read here.
This is general information, not tax advice. Next step: ask an accountant and check the CRA page before buying.
Next: More answers
Related: Do federal grants require bid and performance bonds on construction contracts?; What US funding exists for energy upgrades of nonprofit buildings?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CCA classes of depreciable property
Do federal grants require bid and performance bonds on construction contracts?
Not always, but there are default bonding rules. For construction or facility improvement contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold, the federal agency or pass-through entity may accept your own bonding policy if it finds the federal interest is adequately protected.
If it has not made that finding, the minimum is a bid guarantee of five percent of the bid price, a performance bond for 100 percent of the contract price, and a payment bond for 100 percent of the contract price.
Bonds cost money and can be hard for small contractors to get, which may narrow your bidders. A program can set different terms, so your award agreement controls.
Ask the funder whether it has accepted your policy before you issue bid documents. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: check the bonding clause in your award terms and tell bidders early.
Next: More answers
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 2 CFR 200.326 Bonding requirements
What US funding exists for energy upgrades of nonprofit buildings?
The main federal route read here is a tax mechanism called elective pay, not a grant.
The IRS says tax-exempt and governmental entities can benefit from certain clean energy investment and production credits. Under elective pay, also called direct pay, the credit is treated as a tax payment, so the entity receives its value as a refund. Tax-exempt organizations make the election on Form 990-T and must register with the IRS first, with registration numbers on the return. Credits can be reduced if domestic content or size conditions are not met. Rules and credits have changed by legislation, so confirm current law.
Other sources include state energy programs and utility rebates.
Next step: ask a tax adviser before buying equipment, and check the IRS page.
Next: More answers
Related: Do federal grants require bid and performance bonds on construction contracts?; What costs are usually ineligible in capital grants?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Elective pay and transferability
Can a nonprofit get a facility loan from a CDFI?
Often it can try, but the CDFI Fund page read here does not specifically address nonprofit lending.
Treasury describes a CDFI as a certified organization with community development as its primary mission, serving low-income communities and people with limited access to financing. CDFIs include banks, credit unions, and non-regulated loan and venture funds. The page says certified CDFIs can apply for CDFI Fund awards to support activities such as commercial loans to businesses in low-income areas and community facility loans with flexible underwriting.
Each CDFI sets its own products, terms, geography and credit standards. A loan must be repaid and is not a grant.
Next step: find CDFIs serving your area and ask whether they finance facilities for nonprofits.
Next: More answers
Related: What is the New Markets Tax Credit and how does it help finance buildings?; What costs are usually ineligible in capital grants?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): CDFI certification
Will a federal construction grant pay me up front or only reimburse costs?
For construction awards, reimbursement is the preferred method under the federal payment rule. In general, non-State recipients may be paid in advance if they have written procedures and financial systems that minimize the time between getting funds and spending them, and advances must be limited to the minimum needed.
The rule names several cases where reimbursement is preferred instead. They include when a federal award is for construction, when the agency sets a specific condition, or when private financing or federal loans cover most of the project and the award is a minor part.
So plan to carry costs first. A bridge loan or line of credit may be needed, and its cost may not be covered. Your award agreement controls the actual payment method.
Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: ask the funder how and how often you can submit payment requests.
Next: More answers
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 2 CFR 200.305 Federal payment
How much of a USDA community facility project can a grant pay?
At most 75 percent of eligible project costs, and often much less. USDA's community facilities grant rule sets a graduated scale. Smaller, lower-income rural communities qualify for a higher share. The top tier is 75 percent for a project in a community of 5,000 or fewer people where the median household income served is below the higher of the poverty line or 60 percent of the state nonmetropolitan median.
Other tiers are 55, 35 and 15 percent as population and income thresholds rise, and the lowest tier covers communities up to 50,000 people. The rest of the budget must come from loans, your own money or other grants.
A grant is also not available if other loan funding is available at reasonable rates and terms.
USDA state offices apply these rules to real projects. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: ask your USDA Rural Development state office which tier your project fits.
Next: USDA Community Facilities
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 7 CFR 3570.62 Use of grant funds (Community Facilities Grants); 7 CFR 3570.63 Grant limitations (Community Facilities Grants)
Can a USDA community facility grant pay for staff, supplies or other operating costs?
Generally no. USDA's grant rule bars using community facility grant funds for initial operating expenses or annual recurring costs, including purchases or rentals that are normally operating and maintenance expenses. An exception applies when a community facility loan is part of the funding package.
The rule also bars grant money for refinancing existing debt, paying interest, building facilities for commercial rental (unless minor), building facilities mainly to house government agencies, and paying more than 75 percent of the cost of the facility.
This means a grant can help with building, equipping and related project costs, but your budget for staffing and day-to-day running has to come from elsewhere. Plan the operating side before you apply, because lenders and funders will ask.
Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: sort your budget into capital and operating lines and review it with a USDA Rural Development office.
Next: USDA Community Facilities
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 7 CFR 3570.63 Grant limitations (Community Facilities Grants)
Do I need approval before changing the scope of a funded building project?
Usually yes. Under the federal grant rules, you must request prior written approval before changing the scope or objective of a funded project, even if the change involves no extra money. Other changes that need approval include a change in the approved cost-sharing amount and any need for additional federal funds to finish the project.
You must also report deviations from the approved budget, project scope or objectives. The agency should tell you within 30 days of receiving your request whether the revision is approved, or when a decision can be expected.
This matters in construction because design changes, redesigns after bids come in, and cost overruns can all alter the scope. Programs may add their own approval rules.
So write to the program officer before you commit to a change. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: keep a change log and ask for approval in writing.
Next: More answers
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 2 CFR 200.308 Revision of budget and program plans
How long must I keep records for a funded building project?
Three years from submission of your final financial report is the general rule for federal award records. That covers financial records, supporting documents and statistical records.
For property and equipment bought with federal support, records must be kept for three years after final disposition, which can be many years after the building is finished. Records must also be kept until any litigation, claim or audit that started before the three years ended is resolved, and longer if the agency tells you in writing to extend the period.
For a building project, keep contracts, bids, invoices, change orders, payment requests and proof of payment together in one file. Some programs and state or provincial funders set longer periods, so check your award terms.
Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: set up a project file now and note the retention end date in your calendar after closeout.
Next: More answers
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 2 CFR 200.334 Record retention requirements
What happens if I sell a building bought with grant money?
You generally cannot just sell it. Under US federal rules, you must get disposition instructions first, and the government may share in the proceeds.
Federal property rules say real property bought or improved with an award must keep serving its authorized purpose while needed. You cannot dispose of or encumber the title without the agency's permission. When it is no longer needed, the agency or pass-through entity gives instructions: keep title and pay the federal share of current fair market value, sell and pay the federal share of net proceeds, or transfer title to the government or a designee.
Other funders may use liens, covenants or clawback terms. Read your agreement.
Next step: before any sale, refinance or change of use, ask the funder in writing and speak to a lawyer.
Next: More answers
Related: Can a charity use grant money to buy a building?; What costs are usually ineligible in capital grants?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 2 CFR 200.311 Real property
Does a federally funded building project need an environmental review?
Often yes, if a federal agency is funding or approving the project. The National Environmental Policy Act process begins when a federal agency develops a proposal for a major federal action. EPA describes three levels: a categorical exclusion, an environmental assessment that may end in a finding of no significant impact, and a full environmental impact statement.
A categorical exclusion applies when an action normally has no significant effect on the human environment. Each federal agency sets its own procedures and exclusions, so a small renovation may be quick while a large new build may take much longer.
The agency usually leads the review, but you may be asked for site information. Timing matters, because some programs bar construction before clearance.
Canadian projects follow federal or provincial rules instead. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: ask the funding agency which review level it expects for your project.
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Sources (read 2026-11-01): National Environmental Policy Act Review Process
Can I start building before a HUD-funded project gets environmental clearance?
Usually no. For HUD programs covered by 24 CFR part 58, neither the recipient nor any participant in the development process, including nonprofit or for-profit entities and their contractors, may commit HUD assistance to a project until the environmental certification and request for release of funds are approved.
Until then, non-HUD funds also cannot be committed or spent on the project if the activity would have an adverse environmental impact or limit the choice of reasonable alternatives.
Exempt activities and many categorically excluded ones need no release request, and an option agreement on a site is allowed if it is conditional on the review and costs only a nominal part of the price.
Starting early can put your funding at risk. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: ask your local HUD grantee when clearance is expected before you sign construction contracts.
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Sources (read 2026-11-01): 24 CFR 58.22 Limitations on activities pending clearance
Can federal grant money pay rent on space I lease?
Yes, often, if the rent is reasonable and the award allows it. Under the federal cost principles, rental costs are allowable to the extent the rates are reasonable compared with similar properties, market conditions, available alternatives, and the property's age and condition.
Leases between related parties, such as with an officer, director or family member, get closer limits. Rent on property owned by individuals or entities affiliated with you, such as a home office, is unallowable. Payments under a finance lease are allowable only up to what you could have claimed had you bought the property.
This is about operating rent, not capital funding. Many building grants only fund owned property or require a long lease term. Check the program guide.
Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: get comparable rental quotes and ask the funder whether leased space qualifies.
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Sources (read 2026-11-01): 2 CFR 200.465 Rental costs of real property and equipment
What costs are usually ineligible in capital grants?
It varies by program, so read the funding notice. Under US federal rules, some capital costs are restricted and some are never allowed.
Buildings, land and general-purpose equipment need prior written approval to be charged. Improvements that extend a property's life also need approval. Capital expenditures cannot be charged as indirect costs. Costs from violating or allegedly violating laws are generally unallowable unless the award requires them or the agency approves them in writing. Pre-award spending may be reimbursed only with written approval.
Other funders add their own exclusions, such as fundraising, operating deficits or work started before approval. A common failure is spending first and asking later.
Next step: build a budget from the notice's cost list and ask the program officer about anything unclear.
Next: More answers
Related: Can a charity use grant money to buy a building?; Do government capital grants require matching funds?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 2 CFR 200.439 Equipment and other capital expenditures; 2 CFR 200.441 Fines, penalties, damages; 2 CFR 200.458 Pre-award costs
Can CDBG pay for furniture or equipment inside a new facility?
Generally no. HUD's rule says that buying equipment, fixtures, motor vehicles, furnishings or other personal property that is not an integral structural fixture is generally ineligible for CDBG. Construction equipment purchases are ineligible too, though leasing or depreciation costs can be eligible. Fire protection equipment is treated as part of the public facility, so it can be eligible.
There are narrow exceptions, such as items needed to administer CDBG-assisted activities or items that make up part of a public service.
So a CDBG-funded building may need chairs, kitchen gear or computers paid from donations, other grants or your operating budget.
Local governments also set their own rules. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: split your project budget into building costs and loose equipment before you approach your local CDBG office.
Next: US funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 24 CFR 570.207 Ineligible activities (CDBG)
Do I need zoning approval before I buy or build a business location?
Yes, check zoning first. SBA says that if you buy, rent, build or plan to work from a physical property, you should make sure it conforms to local zoning requirements. Zoning rules can restrict or ban certain kinds of business in an area.
Zoning is typically controlled locally, so contact your city or county planning department. SBA also notes that required licenses and permits depend on your activities and location, and that local governments set registration, licensing and permitting rules.
This matters for funding too. A lender or funder may ask for proof of zoning compliance, permits or an occupancy approval before it releases money, and a project that cannot lawfully operate on its site is a poor candidate for capital funding.
Canadian municipalities work the same way. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: ask the planning office in writing whether your intended use is permitted at the address.
Next: Funding guides
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Apply for licenses and permits
Can USDA community facility grants pay for architect, legal and engineering fees?
Yes, within limits. USDA's grant rule lists reasonable fees and costs as eligible, but only when they are a necessary part of a project to finance an authorized facility. Examples are legal, engineering, architectural, fiscal advisory and recording fees, environmental impact analyses, archaeological surveys, planning, and the costs of establishing or acquiring rights.
Costs of acquiring an interest in land, such as water rights, leases, permits and rights-of-way, can also be eligible, as can buying or renting equipment needed to install, maintain, extend, protect, operate or use the facility.
The overall grant is still capped at 75 percent of eligible project costs and cannot pay operating expenses. Ask USDA to confirm each line in your budget before you spend.
Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: send your itemized project budget to your USDA Rural Development state office for review.
Next: USDA Community Facilities
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 7 CFR 3570.62 Use of grant funds (Community Facilities Grants)
Do I have to use sealed bids to hire a contractor with grant money?
Often, yes. Under the federal procurement rule, formal methods are required once a purchase exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold. Formal methods are competitive and require public notice. Sealed bidding is preferred for construction services.
Sealed bids work best when you have a complete, realistic specification, two or more responsible bidders, and a firm fixed-price contract that can be awarded mainly on price. The award goes in writing to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, bids are opened at the stated time and place, and you must document a justification for every bid you reject.
Local governments must publicly advertise the invitation and open bids publicly.
Smaller purchases can use informal methods, and your funder may add conditions. Awarding a contract without competition can make the cost ineligible. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: confirm the threshold and procurement steps with the funder before you issue an invitation.
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Sources (read 2026-11-01): 2 CFR 200.320 Procurement methods
Can I get a disaster loan to repair my business building?
Possibly, through an SBA physical disaster loan, but only if your property is in a declared disaster area.
The SBA says these low-interest loans repair or replace disaster-damaged property, including real property, machinery, equipment, fixtures, inventory and leasehold improvements. Businesses of any size and most private nonprofits can apply. The SBA lists a maximum of $2 million after insurance and other sources, interest of up to 4 percent if you cannot get credit elsewhere and up to 8 percent if you can, and up to 30 years to repay. Upgrading or expanding the business is not allowed, apart from code-required work.
It is a loan, not a grant, and terms can change.
Next step: check whether your area has a declaration and apply through the SBA.
Next: More answers
Related: Can an SBA 504 loan buy or renovate a building for my business?; Can a charity use grant money to buy a building?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): SBA physical damage disaster loans
Is there funding to restore a heritage building?
In the US, the federal route read here is a historic preservation tax incentive, not a direct grant.
The National Park Service describes its program as encouraging private investment in rehabilitating and reusing historic buildings. It is run by the NPS and the IRS in partnership with State Historic Preservation Offices. Applications are submitted electronically on current forms. The page read did not state the credit rate or the full eligibility tests, so confirm them with the NPS and IRS before planning.
A tax incentive reduces tax owed. It does not pay costs up front and does not suit every owner, such as a tax-exempt group with no tax liability.
In Canada, programs differ by province and site. Check heritage agencies.
Next step: contact your State Historic Preservation Office early, before starting work.
Next: More answers
Related: Does the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund pay for renovations?; What costs are usually ineligible in capital grants?
Sources (read 2026-11-01): Technical Preservation Services tax incentives
Can I start construction before my USDA community facility grant is approved?
You should not. USDA's rule says construction should not be started and obligations for work or materials should not be incurred before the grant is approved.
The exception is narrow. If there are compelling reasons, you may ask the agency in writing to approve paying such obligations. USDA may approve if the reasons are compelling, the obligations are for authorized grant purposes, it approved the contract documents, all applicable environmental requirements have been met, and you have legal authority to incur the debt and payment will remove any basis for liens.
Even then, USDA's authorization is conditional. It is not committed to make the grant, takes no responsibility for the obligations, and you must still meet all approval requirements.
Spending early without that approval puts your own money at risk. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: ask your USDA Rural Development office in writing before signing any construction contract.
Next: USDA Community Facilities
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 7 CFR 3570.62 Use of grant funds (Community Facilities Grants)
Can CDBG pay for repairs to a community building, or for its running costs?
Generally not for running costs or routine upkeep. HUD's CDBG rule says expenses for repairing, operating or maintaining public facilities, improvements and services are ineligible as a general rule. Examples include maintenance and repair of publicly owned streets, parks, playgrounds, neighborhood facilities and senior centers. Exceptions cover operating costs tied to public service activities, interim assistance and office space for CDBG program staff.
CDBG also cannot fund buildings, or portions of them, used for the general conduct of government, though removing architectural barriers is still allowed. Building or rehabilitating a facility, by contrast, can be eligible.
So a one-time rebuild may be fundable while yearly upkeep is not. Local governments add their own priorities. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: ask your local CDBG office whether your project counts as construction or maintenance.
Next: US funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): 24 CFR 570.207 Ineligible activities (CDBG)
Is there a current New Markets Tax Credit allocation round, and who can apply?
As of 2026-11-01 the CDFI Fund page shows an allocation round that opened September 17, 2026, with a deadline of November 10, 2026 and awards expected to be announced in fall 2027. Check the page for current dates.
The applicants are Community Development Entities that the CDFI Fund has certified. They compete for allocations of tax credit authority. A business or nonprofit should not apply for CDE certification. It should instead contact CDEs directly to ask about NMTC-enhanced financing.
The credit totals 39 percent of the original investment, claimed over seven years by the investor, and deals are complex.
Because the round is run by CDEs, your project has no deadline of its own on this date. Awards are not predictable. Nothing here predicts approval or eligibility. Next step: use the CDFI Fund's map of awardee states served to find CDEs near you.
Next: US funding resources
Sources (read 2026-11-01): New Markets Tax Credit Program
What CELER is and is not. celerfunding.com is operated by Celer Merchants Corporation. We are not a lender, grantmaker, government agency, investment portal or licensed adviser, and we are not an official partner of the programs mentioned here. This page is general information, not legal, tax, investment or credit advice. A CELER enquiry is not an official grant or loan application.