$3 million commitment over the next three years will support neighborhood revitalization, economic development and job creation in local municipalities

SAN FRANCISCO and WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 25, 2018 – The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and Wells Fargo today announced the 2018 CommunityWINS® grant program, aimed at accelerating neighborhood revitalization, economic development and job creation in municipalities across the country.

USCM and Wells Fargo first announced the CommunityWINS grant program in 2015, with a three-year, $3 million commitment by Wells Fargo. Including 2018, the public-private collaboration will extend another three years through 2020 with an additional $3 million commitment by Wells Fargo, bringing the combined total to $6 million over six years.

The CommunityWINS grant program is administered by USCM and funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation.

“We are pleased to expand this impactful program through 2020,” said Tom Cochran, U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and executive director. “The CommunityWINS program demonstrates how the private and public sectors can work together to address local economic challenges and create positive change. Our organization and Wells Fargo share similar goals and commitments to help communities across the country succeed, and we look forward to teaming up with additional cities and nonprofits to spur economic recovery in 2018 and beyond.”

Through a competitive application process, USCM will determine eligibility and administer grant funds to eligible nonprofits in six cities, two awards per population category, to support neighborhood revitalization, economic development and job creation initiatives.

“Together, USCM and Wells Fargo are empowering communities to make improvements in local municipalities,” said Martin Sundquist, executive director of the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation. “Since the 2015 launch of CommunityWINS, we have seen our goals of accelerating neighborhood revitalization, economic development and job creation come to life and strengthen cities as a result. We are thrilled to announce our continued $3 million, three-year commitment and look forward to seeing our communities benefit.”

USCM member cities can nominate up to three eligible nonprofit initiatives or programs that address one of the following issues:

  • Neighborhood stabilization – projects designed to stimulate growth and stability while assisting in the removal of blight and the rebuilding of neighborhoods.
  • Economic development – projects designed to promote business development.
  • Job creation – projects designed to aid in local job creation or assist in job training.

Grant requirements, application details, application checklists and the online application forms are available now at www.usmayors.org/communitywins/. Applications must be submitted by March 16, 2018.

In 2017, CommunityWINS grants were presented to six nonprofits: Main Street Launch (San Francisco); Farm Fresh (Providence, R.I.); Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County (Lancaster, Pa.); 3Star Community Corporation (Atlanta); MAKE Santa Fe (Santa Fe, N.M.); and Ithaca Downtown Business Improvement District (Ithaca, N.Y.).

The CommunityWINS grant program collaboration between the USCM and Wells Fargo follows a national alliance formed in 2011 to address foreclosure prevention, property disposition, homeownership promotion and community development. The alliance was forged to address housing challenges through strategies developed by Wells Fargo.