Rural Downtown Economic Development Grants (RDEDG)

Rural Downtown Economic Development Grants

Funds rural downtown revitalization in North Carolina through redevelopment grants for local businesses and communities.

Eligibility · United States · US-NC

The Rural Downtown Economic Development Grant (RDEDG) is administered by the NC Department of Commerce through the Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) and provides discretionary grants to local governments in North Carolina for downtown revitalization and economic development in downtown districts. The program supports main streets and downtown commercial cores as economic engines for rural communities. Applications are accepted on a rolling, discretionary basis; as of March 2024, no specific award amounts or active cycle dates have been published on the program's official page, and decisions are made at RIA's discretion based on project merit.

Eligible applicants are local governments only — businesses, nonprofits, and individuals cannot apply directly. Eligible activities fall into three categories: public infrastructure improvements such as streetscapes, waterfront developments, parks, lots, and alleys; public building improvements including community centers, theaters, civic centers, recreation facilities, and libraries; and mixed-use development on publicly owned properties supporting retail, restaurants, services, residential, or institutional uses. A mandatory 5% local match is required from all applicants. Each application must include a job projection analysis and an Environmental Review. Grant decisions are evaluated primarily on job creation and retention metrics, meaning applications should quantify projected employment impacts clearly.

The RDEDG is a companion to North Carolina's broader rural economic development toolkit, which also includes the Rural Transformation Grant Fund and the One NC Fund. Unlike the One NC Fund, RDEDG is targeted exclusively at downtown public improvements rather than private business investment. Contact for RDEDG inquiries is Elizabeth H. Parham at (919) 805-2067 or lparham@commerce.nc.gov. Local government applicants should contact Commerce to confirm whether a current discretionary round is accepting submissions, prepare a strong job-impact analysis, and identify all eligible public improvement activities to maximize the scope and competitiveness of their application.