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Community Grants

Besides having helped almost 15,000 individuals and families purchase their homes, the East Baton Rouge Mortgage Finance Authority also promotes economic development in the parish through its community grants program for non-profit organizations. The program provides grant funds and capital funds to be used for projects by non-profit organizations that advance the Authority’s mission, especially in the area of increasing home ownership. Grants are awarded to organizations and agencies within East Baton Rouge Parish for use in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Non-profit organizations wishing to receive guidelines for submitting proposals should send a fax or e-mail to the Authority listing the name and title of a contact person, the organization’s name, address, phone number, fax number and e-mail address. Requests should be faxed to (225) 771-8573 or e-mailed to programadministrator@ebrmfa.org.

Grants are awarded no more often than once a year and are screened by a grants review committee consisting of members of the Authority’s Board of Trustees. When the Authority is in a position to offer grants it advertises in The Advocatenewspaper in Baton Rouge.

The Authority has approved grants and capital funding for the following projects in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Baton Rouge Area Chamber. The EBRMFA Board of Trustees approved a grant of $1.5 million to the Baton Rouge Area Chamber to help fund the Chamber’s five-year economic development plan, known as The Campaign for a Greater Baton Rouge. The five-year Chamber initiative is designed to deliver a highly professional and proactive, nationally competitive regional economic development program for the businesses and families of the Baton Rouge area. The campaign enables BRAC to identify strategic economic development initiatives and pursue them energetically while identifying obstacles and aggressively addressing them. The funds granted by the Authority are dedicated for use on projects exclusive to East Baton Rouge Parish. The $1.5 million grant is being paid in increments of $300,000 per year for five years. The first payment was made in 2006.
Baton Rouge Green. “Making Baton Rouge Greener one neighborhood at a time.” This program trains neighborhood youths to be “Tree Troopers” for their neighborhood, taking ownership of the care of trees planted for the future. The goal of this project is to improve environmental and ecological health and the aesthetic appearance of 12 neighborhoods in East Baton Rouge Parish. The grant is for $75,000 to be allocated $25,000 per year for three years.
Old South Baton Rouge Partnership. An East Baton Rouge Mortgage Finance Authority grant of $125,000 is helping fund start-up costs for this new organization. The goals of this program include marketing the Old South Baton Rouge community to developers and businesses, facilitating home ownership and business development, promoting resident involvement in establishing neighbor focus groups and community volunteer programs.
MidCity Redevelopment Alliance.This $25,000 grant to the MidCity Redevelopment Alliance is being used to support the group’s Home Ownership Center, which is the cornerstone of the Alliance’s effort to create a stable community by increasing home ownership.
MidCity Redevelopment Alliance. The Authority is providing the MidCity Redevelopment Alliance with an interest-free $100,000 loan that will be used to purchase land and build a new house in the Mid-City area of Baton Rouge. The money will be paid back without interest to the Authority when the home is sold.
Baton Rouge Area Foundation. The Authority’s $50,000 grant will further the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s program to create affordable housing for Baton Rouge citizens. Part of the program involves acquiring title to 1,900 vacant properties and returning them to use and to the parish’s tax base.
Baton Rouge Area Foundation. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation is using this $100,000 to help purchase 10 properties for homes. The funds will be repaid and revolve to purchase more lots. The program’s goal is to increase home ownership in the Old South Baton Rouge area of the parish.
Gulf Coast Housing Partnership. The Authority is providing $50,000 a year for three years to help the Gulf Coast Housing Partnership to initiate its program to develop 2,500 housing units in Baton Rouge by 2015.
East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority. The EBRMFA has committed $3.0 million dollars to the Redevelopment Authority at $1.0 million per year for 2009, 2010 and 2011. The main purpose of the grant is to assist the Redevelopment Authority in returning underutilized properties to productive use.