Notice of Funding Availability

The Notice of Funding Availability (“NOFA”) program provides residential developers with various favorable financing options for transformative housing projects that make positive, visible impacts on our communities and fulfill City housing priorities, such as affordability, availability, variety, and sustainability.

2025 NOFA Applications NOW OPEN. Scroll down for more information, links, and documents.

NOFA is a public gap financing tool that can be used for up to 40% of total project costs for housing development projects that stimulate investment and would otherwise not proceed. Funds may be used towards site acquisitions, hard construction costs associated with renovation, new construction of residential space, and infrastructure improvements associated with the project.

Funding sources may include Home Investment Partnership Program (“HOME”), Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”), City Capital, and District TIFs. The amount of allocated financial assistance is limited by the availability of federal and local funding.

Goal

Cincinnati has a housing supply shortage; matched with increased demand, this leads to higher housing costs and a deficit of affordable housing options for residents. In recognition of this, the Department of Community and Economic Development ("DCED") aims to activate and encourage proactive and targeted housing development, support quality and diverse housing options, as well as supportive housing services for a variety of income levels. NOFA enables the City to help stimulate the creation of hundreds of units per year, thus helping to achieve Plan Cincinnati’s goals of providing a full spectrum of healthy housing options and to improve housing quality and affordability.

NOFA Quick Facts

NOFA leverages private and philanthropic dollars to support the creation and preservation of rental units and homeowner opportunities. It often provides crucial gap financing to make development happen.

From 2015 - 2023, $53.7 Million has been awarded to support the creation or preservation of 2,883 units, 2374 of which are affordable (Area Median Income ("AMI")-restricted; range varied depending on project between 30%-80%).
DCED evaluates all NOFA projects in a competitive process in alignment with City of Cincinnati housing policy objectives (such as affordability and quality)

Who Can Apply?

All Developers
Non-Profit Development Organizations & Community Development Corporations
Community Housing Development Organizations
Community Based Development Organizations
Public Housing Authorities

Overview of Process

NOFA funding is awarded through a competitive application process. At the start of the NOFA cycle, DCED releases guidelines and an Intent to Apply form, as well as separate online applications for homeownership and rental projects. Interested applicants must submit a response to the Intent to Apply Form by the date listed in the Guidelines and Form. The application and all associated attachments are due at a later date, as indicated in the Guidelines and application documents.

DCED staff evaluate and recommend projects based on how well they meet City housing policy objectives (Note: scoring criteria are updated annually). Their recommendations are presented to the City Manager for final determination of awards. Contracts are then drafted between the City and the applicant.

NOFA Projects Across Cincinnati

1901 Baymiller

Common Ground Community Development is renovating this building in the West End. It will have a restaurant on the ground floor (871 sq. ft. of commercial space) and seven units above, all targeted at 80% AMI. It received $400,000 of NOFA funding in 2023 for an estimated total project cost of $1.2 Million.

938 Dayton Street

Grey Rock Development LLC is rehabilitating 938 Dayton St, a building that will include 6 units with a shared courtyard patio and a garden. The total project cost is around $1.3 million, and it received $425,000 in NOFA funds in 2024. The building will also achieve LEED certification.

Carthage Flats

Talbert Services, Inc. and Model Property Development, LLC are constructing a new building in the Carthage neighborhood with onsite parking, a community room, outdoor space, and rooms for service delivery. The project will be 45 housing units for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It received $2 Million of NOFA funding in 2023 for an estimated total project cost of $15.3 Million. It was also awarded LIHTC support and is predicted to achieve LEED Silver certification.

For more NOFA projects, check out our 2023 Annual Report.

Click Here for the 2025 NOFA Intent to Apply Form (All Projects)

Click Here for the 2025 NOFA Application (Rental Projects)

Click Here for the 2025 NOFA Application (Homeownership Projects)

Timeline

Friday, March 28, 2025, 12PM ET (noon): Pre-App Intent to Apply Due
- NOFA Intent to Apply Microsoft Form Due.

Friday, May 2, 2025, 12PM ET (noon): Final NOFA Applications Due
- All application submissions must be delivered via email to CommunityDevelopment@cincinnati-oh.gov with the subject line: “Attention: 2025 NOFA Application – Project Name” by 12pm (noon) on May 2nd, 2025. A complete application includes the following:

o The Intent to Apply form.
o The 2025 NOFA Application.
o A pdf copy of the signed Summary & Certification page from the 2025 NOFA Application.
o All necessary attachments outlined in Exhibit G of 2025 NOFA Guidelines

Note: Please send all documents in a zip (compressed format). If there is missing information on your application, a Development Officer will reach out to you.

May 14 - 21, 2025: Application Cure Period
- If applications have missing information, Development Officers will reach out to applicants. All missing information must be received by May 21st or application may be rejected.

May 30, 2025: Eligible Applicants Finalized
- Applicants whose projects does not meet minimum eligibility requirements will be notified via email that their project cannot be considered for NOFA 2025.

June 12, 2025: Annual NOFA Tour
- DCED staff will tour the projects submitted to NOFA; applicants are asked to be available to provide a tour of their project on this day, but it is not required and will not impact project eligibility.

Late-August, 2025: Awards Announced
- Provided the NOFA process proceeds as expected, formal award letters will be sent, and final NOFA awards will be announced publicly at the end of summer.

Interested? Have questions? For more information, contact:

Breanna White, breanna.white@cincinnati-oh.gov

Morgan Rahe, morgan.rahe@cincinnati-oh.gov

Documents & Helpful Links