The City of Tucson’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is seeking proposals from organizations to build and operate Community Serving Facilities in Thrive in the 05 in support of the impactful Choice Neighborhoods Implementation (CNI) grant.
Donor Name: City of Tucson
State: Arizona
City: Tucson
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/15/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
As part of the CNI initiative, the City seeks proposals from qualified organizations, developers, nonprofits, health care providers, and operators of community-serving facilities to develop one or more of the following:
- A Community Food Hub with the potential for kitchen incubator space, culinary training, food-related entrepreneurship opportunities, emergency food or meal distribution, food pantry services, and/or a market or cafe.
- A Health Station to provide primary care navigation, behavioral health services, preventative care, health screenings, wellness programming, or other service models.
- Neighborhood-serving retail and community services such as a grocery/market, coffee shop, and/or food retail.
Objectives
All proposals should align with the Thrive in the 05 Transformation Plan. Actions identified in the Thrive in the 05 Transformation Plan include:
- Promote safety and community cohesion through environmental design and creative placemaking
- Increase residents’ health literacy, screening, access, and utilization of services
- Address food insecurity and access to high quality, healthy food options
- Develop community-based solutions to increase food security
- Increase opportunities for safe, prosocial after-school opportunities for youth.
- Create a school and services hub to support collaborative, innovative learning
- Create incubator and small business spaces for emerging entrepreneurs
- Revitalize and reactivate Drachman Street from Oracle and Main to Stone Avenue
- Recruit neighborhood-serving retail and businesses.
Priorities
Proposals are also encouraged to include one or more of the following:
- Collaboration with the City of Tucson’s Small Business team to expand the food incubator program as described.
- Participation of a Federally Recognized Tribe or an organization applying in collaboration with a Federally Recognized Tribe.
- Use of The Annex to provide services meeting the needs of Tucson House residents.
- Plans that leverage multiple partners or address multiple project objectives outlined in 2.3.
Funding Information
Grant Up to $3.5 million.
Use of funds
- Funds awarded through this RFP can be used for the renovation of physical spaces, purchase of equipment, interior improvements, exterior façade improvements, green infrastructure, and signage.
- Funds are not available for ongoing administration and operations. Sustainable funding for operations must be identified in submitted proposals.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must submit a complete proposal that aligns with the criteria outlined. Proposals should include the following sections:
- Community Need: Explain how the proposed development will help satisfy the community needs identified in this RFP.
- Development plan and organizational capability: Describe what space will be used for the proposed project, what elements the HUD funding will be used for, and what additional funding, if any, is involved and its source. If the space is not within the City’s control, explain how the applicant will acquire the right to utilize it.
- Programming and sustainability:
- Describe what services or programming will be provided in the finished project and the business model for assuring long-term sustainability of the operation consistent with meeting community needs.
- Identify any proposed long-term funding sources that will sustain operations. Include contingency plans that can be implemented if a major funding source is no longer available.
- Budget: Provide an itemized budget for the proposed project and an estimated timeline for completion.
- Organizational Capacity:
- Describe the applicant’s experience managing similar projects. Include partner experience where relevant.
- Describe the applicant’s experience operating community programming and services similar to those outlined in proposal. Include partner experience where relevant.
For more information, visit City of Tucson.
