Tribal Housing Pre-Development Fund

The Tribal Housing Pre-Development Fund is administered by the California Strategic Growth Council, a state agency responsible for coordinating and supporting sustainable community development and climate investment programs across California. This funding opportunity is part of the broader California Climate Investments initiative and aligns with legislative mandates aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening communities. The program is specifically designed to support Tribal communities by enabling early-stage development activities that will ultimately lead to the construction of affordable housing. The primary purpose of the program is to provide financial resources for pre-development activities that prepare Tribal housing projects for future construction and eligibility for additional state funding programs. These activities include planning, feasibility analysis, environmental review, and infrastructure design. By funding these early-stage efforts, the program aims to improve project readiness and increase the likelihood that Tribal housing developments can successfully compete for larger capital funding opportunities such as affordable housing construction programs. Funding may be used for a wide range of eligible activities that directly support housing project readiness. These include architectural and engineering services, legal and consulting fees, site acquisition and preparation, infrastructure development such as utilities and roadways, and community engagement processes. The program also allows funding for needs assessments, staff training, and other preparatory work necessary to ensure projects are well-designed and responsive to community needs. The scope of allowable uses emphasizes comprehensive preparation rather than construction itself. Eligibility for this program is limited to California Native American Tribes listed on the Native American Heritage Commission Contact List and Tribally Designated Housing Entities as defined under federal law. Both federally recognized and non-federally recognized Tribes are eligible, provided non-federally recognized entities are registered as legal entities within California. The program is exclusively targeted to Tribal applicants, and no other organization types are eligible to apply independently. Applications must be submitted through the Submittable online platform, which serves as the official submission portal for the program. Applicants are required to complete all application materials and ensure accuracy and completeness prior to submission. The Strategic Growth Council may request clarifications or revisions during the review process, and applicants are expected to respond promptly. Applications are reviewed for completeness and then evaluated based on established scoring criteria that consider factors such as project impact, community need, organizational capacity, and geographic diversity. The application timeline operates on a rolling basis beginning May 11, 2026, with a key deadline of August 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM PT for consideration in the first round of awards. Additional funding rounds may occur if funds remain available, with subsequent deadlines extending into early 2027. Award recommendations are expected to be presented in October 2026 for the first round and potentially in Spring 2027 for subsequent rounds. The grant term extends up to three years, with final fund disbursement anticipated between Winter 2029 and Spring 2030. Evaluation of applications is conducted by a review panel using criteria established in the program guidelines. These criteria emphasize equitable distribution of funding across diverse Tribal communities and prioritize projects that demonstrate strong community need, readiness, and potential impact. Final award decisions are made by the Strategic Growth Council and are considered final. Applicants may appeal eligibility or scoring decisions within a defined timeframe, but appeals are limited to procedural issues rather than comparative outcomes.

Align project with housing need, demonstrate readiness, emphasize community impact and capacity