The Placemaking Grant program is a community-building initiative that supports quick-wins, and transformative projects throughout the city. These small-scale placemaking projects enhance community vibrancy, safety, and identity through:
Since 2019, this grant has provided over one million dollars of direct investment into Charlotte neighborhoods. It is an extension of the City's Placemaking Hub, which provides toolkits to inspire and guide placemaking efforts. Together, the Hub and the Grant allow neighborhoods, individuals, and businesses to define the character and identity of their communities through community-driven projects with the support of the City of Charlotte Urban Design Center staff.
Placemaking prioritizes the human experience through the design and activation of public spaces. Projects enhance the vibrancy and social culture of underused spaces, transforming them into places that serve the needs and wants of the adjacent communities. The Charlotte Urban Design Center sees placemaking as a collaborative process to better connect community members to the spaces and people around them.
Do you have a specific project idea to address an issue or opportunity in your neighborhood? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions below to learn more about project funding and grant application.
Thinking about something different? We love new ideas! Other projects will be considered.
Got a space with potential, but not sure what to do with it? We offer a Technical Assistance Placemaking Grant where UDC staff lead a community workshop to help the neighborhood collaborate on project ideas.
Applicant groups must be significantly composed of people who live within the city of Charlotte limits.
If selected, the applicant must be able to meet the City of Charlotte vendor requirements.
The 2026 application period is now open! Please read the City of Charlotte’s Placemaking Grant Application Guide(PDF, 9MB) before completing this application. Please complete this application in full and provide the required attachments by Friday, May 1, 2026, at 5 p.m. EST. Applicants will be notified no later than June 15, 2026.
Please join our newsletter email list and follow us @clturbandesign on social media to receive updates on the Placemaking Grant and other UDC opportunities.
Ria Naab, Placemaking Community Associate, Urban Design Center
Will Linville AICP, CNU-A, Program Manager, Urban Design Center