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Community Economic Development Program

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Administration for Children and Families

Provides grants for economic development activities that create jobs in low-income communities through business development, expansion, or creation of new enterprises. At least 75% of jobs created with Community Economic Development (CED) grants must go to individuals in the target area with historically low incomes.

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  • Funding

Key Points

  • The Community Economic Development program provides funding to private, nonprofit community development corporations, including faith-based organizations and Tribal and Alaskan Native organizations.
  • Funding for this program is available on an annual cycle, with awards covering project periods of up to five years.
  • In addition to the operational CED grant program, there is a related planning grant that provides entities funds and technical support to build capacity to leverage local partners, secure additional resources, and prepare to manage an operational  CED grant project successfully, and create sustainable jobs.  
  • Learn more about active Community Economic Development project locations in your area.

FIM Opportunities

The Community Economic Development program is a federal grant program that expands employment for individuals with low income in communities facing persistent poverty and high unemployment by investing in community development corporations that create and expand businesses and job opportunities.  

Jobs created with CED funds provide living wages, paid leave, fringe benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition, employees are also connected to critical support services to remove barriers to long-term employment and economic mobility. At least 75 percent of all the jobs created with CED funds are filled by individuals with low income.

CED-funded grocery stores and farmer’s market incubators funded by the Office of Community Services create jobs and provide healthy foods. These endeavors help address what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) calls food deserts. Grocery store projects provide community residents access to fresh food that they can afford. Access to healthy food is an important component of Food Is Medicine programs.

For an example of how these funds can be used to support increased access to healthy food, learn how Community Builders of Kansas City used Community Economic Development grant funds to prevent the Blue Parkway Sun Fresh grocery store from shutting its doors in Kansas City, Missouri. Now, the community has access to fresh, affordable, healthy food and 32 community members have reliable employment with benefits.  

You can also check out more CED Voices from the Field stories to see how CED projects helped revitalize their communities.

Content last reviewed on August 10, 2026