The City of Reading has launched the Downtown Housing Development Grant Program (COR-DHD), a pilot grant program designed to support workforce housing development in downtown Reading.
Donor Name: City of Reading
State: Pennsylvania
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/03/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The program will provide competitive grants to help eliminate cost-prohibitive barriers to converting or rehabilitating underutilized upper-floor spaces into housing. Reading currently faces a deficit of approximately 5,000 housing units, while many upper-floor retail spaces downtown remain vacant or underused due to a variety of cost prohibitive barriers.
Funding Information
Grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.
Uses of Funds
Eligible uses include structural stabilization; major building systems; correction of life-safety hazards and code deficiencies; roofing and related drainage systems; heating and cooling infrastructure; and fire protection systems.
Eligibility Criteria
Any of the following entities may apply for a grant under the Pilot Program:
- For-Profit Organization – A corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, limited liability
company, business trust, or other commercial entity approved by the City. - Non-profit Organization – An entity organized for public benefit whose members or shareholders may not receive any monetary profits.
- Private Individual – A natural person acting in their personal capacity and not on behalf of another legal entity.
Eligible entities must also meet the following criteria in order to be considered for a grant under the Pilot Program:
- Must demonstrate good standing and compliance with applicable local, state, and federal requirements, including but not limited to
- Possessing and maintaining all licenses required for lawful operation within the City, including but not limited to a valid Business Privilege License.
- The applicant must be in compliance with all applicable city ordinances including, but not limited to, either the property owner residing within twenty-five (25) miles of the City limits or having a designated local agent residing within that same radius
- Must not owe delinquent property taxes, judgements, or municipal fees at the time of application and throughout the grant period.
- Must be free of all outstanding involuntary liens, including but not limited to tax, municipal, or mechanic’s liens. Voluntary liens such as mortgages shall not disqualify an applicant.
For more information, visit City of Reading.
