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Grants for city and county governments

Grants that Tennessee cities, towns, metro governments and county governments can apply for. We list the programs local governments like yours have won.

Federal programs local governments win

We rank programs by how many Tennessee local governments won them. That means recipients named city of, town of, a metro government or a county government. Our award records come from USAspending.gov, federal audit reports (Federal Audit Clearinghouse), including money passed through state agencies, and FEMA's OpenFEMA data. Most are from federal fiscal years 2023–2025; FEMA records go back to 1997. We left out money that arrives by formula without an application, like school and school-lunch funds, and the American Rescue Plan's one-time local aid, which has ended. Tennessee state programs and foundation grants from IRS filings are further down.

  1. Assistance to Firefighters Grant (program number 97.044)

    Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG): FEMA's grant for fire departments. City and county fire departments win it more than any other federal grant in our data. It pays for firefighter equipment, gear and training.

    No open grant right now. · 1613 Tennessee awards on file

  2. Community Development Block Grants/State's program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii (program number 14.228)

    Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), state program. HUD sends this money to Tennessee. The state then gives it to smaller cities and counties. It pays for water, sewer and other work that helps people with low and middle incomes.

    1 grant open or opening soon: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Regular Round, 2027 program year · 214 Tennessee awards on file

  3. Appalachian Area Development (program number 23.002)

    Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grants for cities and counties in the state's Appalachian counties. They pay for work that helps the local economy grow, like water and sewer lines. ARC pays a bigger share in poorer counties.

    1 grant open or opening soon: Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Area Development Grants –... · 123 Tennessee awards on file

  4. Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants (program number 16.710)

    COPS grants from the U.S. Department of Justice help police and sheriff's offices hire officers and do community policing. Cities and counties apply directly.

    2 grants open or opening soon: U.S. Department of Justice FY26 Coordinated Tribal Assistance...; FY26 Community Policing Development (CPD) Accreditation Program · 131 Tennessee awards on file

  5. Hazard Mitigation Grant (program number 97.039)

    FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). After a federal disaster, it pays for work that cuts future damage, like buyouts, drainage fixes and warning sirens. You apply through TEMA, the state's emergency agency.

    No open grant right now. · 284 Tennessee awards on file

  6. Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (program number 16.738)

    Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) pay for police, courts, jails and crime prevention staff and gear. Some cities and counties get a set amount from the Justice Department. Others apply to the state for a share.

    1 grant open or opening soon: BJA FY 2026 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG)... · 120 Tennessee awards on file

  7. Community Facilities Loans and Grants (program number 10.766)

    USDA Community Facilities grants help rural towns and counties build and equip things the whole town uses, like fire stations and libraries. You pay part of the cost. You apply to USDA Rural Development's Tennessee office.

    1 grant open or opening soon: Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program (Tennessee) · 127 Tennessee awards on file

  8. Safe Streets and Roads for All (program number 20.939)

    Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A): U.S. Department of Transportation grants for cities and counties to plan and build projects that prevent traffic deaths and serious injuries. You pay at least 20% of the cost.

    1 grant open or opening soon: Safe Streets and Roads for All Funding Opportunity · 32 Tennessee awards on file

  9. Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities (program number 10.760)

    USDA Water & Waste Disposal loans and grants help rural towns and counties build or fix water and sewer systems, so bills stay low. You must show you can't borrow the money on fair terms anywhere else.

    1 grant open or opening soon: Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program (Tennessee) · 57 Tennessee awards on file

Open and opening-soon grants for this work

Every grant that fits, as city or town government Foundations that fund this work Follow new ones by RSS

Tennessee programs that fund this work

Foundations that funded Tennessee local governments

From their IRS filings. Foundations that accept applications are listed first.

FoundationBased inFundedTotalHow to apply
Carnegie Corporation of New YorkNYMetropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County$280KTakes applications
Boyd FoundationTNCity of Jackson; City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation; City of Waverly$200KTakes applications
Lafollette Medical Foundation Inc.TNCity of Lafollette Fire Department; Town of Jacksboro Fire Department$184KTakes applications
Tucker FoundationTNCity of Cleveland TN$25KTakes applications
Jane I Pettway FoundationTNLoudon County Government$24KTakes applications
Duke Energy FoundationNCMetropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County$24KTakes applications
La-Z-Boy FoundationMICity of Dayton Fire Department$16KTakes applications
Aslan FoundationTNCity of Knoxville$3,500Takes applications
The Ayers Foundation TrustTNTown of Unicoi$850Takes applications
Lakeshore Park ConservancyTNCity of Knoxville$35.8MHow to apply: not stated
Friends of the City Park All Inclusive ProjectTNTown of Huntingdon TN$1.2MHow to apply: not stated
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Inc.TNCity of Dickson Parks and Recreation; City of Goodlettsville; City of Lynnville$1MHow to apply: not stated
Cha Charitable Benefit CorporationTNCity of Chattanooga$860KHow to apply: not stated
The Bays Mountain Park AssociationTNCity of Kingposrt; City of Kingsport TN$801KHow to apply: not stated
The Trust for Public LandCACity of Chattanooga; City of Chattanooga Co City Attorney's Office; The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County$731KHow to apply: not stated
The Recycling Partnership Inc.DCChester County Government Dba Chester County Solid Waste & West TN Recyclin; City of Jackson; City of Jackson TN$508KHow to apply: not stated
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Inc.FLCity of Adams On Behalf of Adams Fire & Emergency Services; City of Brentwood On Behalf of Brentwood Fire and Rescue Department; City of Eagleville TN On Behalf of Eagleville Fire Department$439KHow to apply: not stated
Cops DirectTXCity of Morristown$282KHow to apply: not stated
Ballad HealthTNTown of Jonesborough$250KHow to apply: not stated
Eastman Credit UnionTNCity of Kingsport$202KHow to apply: not stated
Petco LoveTXCity of Memphis; City of Newport Animal Control; Williamson County Government$194KHow to apply: not stated
West TN Healthcare Foundation Inc.TNCity of Greenfield; City of Trenton$150KHow to apply: not stated
East Tennessee FoundationTNAnderson County Government; City of Johnson City; City of New Market$128KHow to apply: not stated
American Online Giving Foundation Inc.DECity of Chattanooga Deptchattanooga Hamilton; City of Harriman; City of Jefferson$128KHow to apply: not stated
The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga Inc.TNCity of Chattanooga; City of Creators$122KHow to apply: not stated
Everytown for Gun Safety Support FundNYCity of Memphis Tennessee$50KHow to apply: not stated
Southface Energy Institute Inc.GATown of Wartrace$46KHow to apply: not stated
National League of Cities Institute Inc.DCCity of Chattanooga; City of Knoxville$45KHow to apply: not stated
South Cumberland Community FundTNTown of Tracy City$39KHow to apply: not stated
Mountain Goat Trail Alliance Inc.TNTown of Tracy City$39KHow to apply: not stated

Tennessee peers: see who funds them

Eligibility tips

  • Tennessee's CDBG takes one application per city or county each year, in the spring. Metro governments can't apply. Grants go up to $420,000 for non-construction and $1,000,000 for construction. Your local share depends on your community's ability to pay. Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
  • ARC pays a bigger share of a project in poorer counties. If at least half the counties a project serves are distressed, ARC can pay up to 80% of the cost. Projects in counties ARC rates as attainment usually can't get ARC money. Appalachian Regional Commission
  • To get FEMA hazard mitigation project grants, like HMGP, your city or county must have a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan. Check that yours is current before a disaster hits. 44 CFR 201.6(a)
  • USDA Community Facilities grants go to public bodies and community nonprofits in towns of 20,000 or fewer. Low-income towns of 5,000 or fewer can get up to 75% of the cost. USDA Rural Development
  • Foundations that gave to other Tennessee cities, towns and counties are listed below. Who funded this group?

Checked Oct 9, 2026.