T-Mobile Hometown Grants is a $25 million, five-year initiative to support the people and organizations who help small towns across America thrive and grow. Hometown Grants are given every quarter to up to 25 small towns. Apply for funding to support a community project of your choice, like revitalizing or repurposing a historic structure, creating a downtown asset or destination, or improving a space where friends and neighbors gather. Projects that add to a sense of place or could lead to further investment are of particular interest. We look forward to learning more about your town and your project. 

HOW TO APPLY

Review the eligibility and grant criteria below to ensure your community and proposed project meets application requirements. Applicants can submit their proposals by completing this application form. The grant application period will close on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. No late applications will be accepted. Applications will be evaluated and selected by a review panel, and all applicants will be sent an award decision by late February 2026.

Grant recipients will each receive an award of up to $50,000 to implement their ideas and will have 12 months March 1, 2026 - February 28, 2027) to complete their projects. Recipients will be required to submit a progress report at the 6-month mark following the grant disbursement, and a final report will be due at the end of the 12-month implementation period. All reports are to be completed using a template provided.
 

REVIEW CRITERIA
 

Your application will be reviewed by an internal T-Mobile review committee and non-profit partner based upon the following criteria. Please note that the letters of support for your project are an important part of this application. 

• Community need - Proposed project should fill a demonstrated need in the community. This grant funding is intended for shovel-ready projects that would not otherwise be possible to implement through municipal funding. Proposal & letters of support should demonstrate strong community support for the project. 
• Community impact - Project should connect the community in meaningful, innovative, and creative ways. 
• Partners and engagement - Strong applications actively involve local organizations by incorporating them into the planning and execution processes and engaging the community in activating the project site. Letters of support should come from a variety of stakeholders within the community. 
• Feasibility - You should have a shovel-ready plan ready to go and be able to complete your project within your detailed budget and within 12 months of receiving funding, if selected. Projects must  be completed and  usable by the public by February 28, 2027. Make sure to consider these parameters when choosing the kind of project you propose for this grant. 
• Alignment with T-Mobile's small town strategy - T-Mobile strives to be a force for good. To read more about T-Mobile’s many corporate initiatives and key segments, visit https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility. 

ELIGIBILITY
 

Who may apply? 

• This grant program is specifically open to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations and local government entities.  If selected, the grant award must be managed and deployed by the nonprofit organization or government entity who applied for the grant. 
• Grant funds may not be awarded to for-profit businesses, directly or indirectly via pass-through funding to for-profit businesses. Additionally, religious congregations are​ not eligible for this grant program. 
• Applicants must be located in small rural communities with a population of 50,000 people or less. ​​ 
• Proposals must focus on a physical project benefiting the public. 
• The applicant organization must own the site where the proposed project would be implemented OR provide a description/confirmation of adequate permissions to alter the site. If the applicant organization does not own the site, one of the letters of support must come from the owner of the site.  
• Applicants may submit up to one (1) application per organization per grant cycle. Applicants may re-apply to subsequent grant cycles if they are not selected in an earlier round. 
• Previous T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program grantees are eligible to apply again for later grant cycles. Previous T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program grantees must demonstrate successful completion of their prior grant project in their application. 

What types of grant expenses are eligible?
     Requested funding must be for a physical placemaking project.

Eligible Grant Uses: 

• Construction/​installation supplies and materials 
• Equipment 
• Labor costs for construction/​rehabilitation/​installation/​artist fees 
• Artist’s supplies and fees associated with a community engagement design process (i.e. a mural or creative crosswalk informed by facilitated community discussions) 
• Streetscape and/or indoor furniture for a community space 
• Other physical items 
• Special events or public space activation programming can only account for up to 10% or $5,000 of total grant amount.  
   

Ineligible Grant Uses: 

• Engineering and architectural plans or fees 
• Staff salaries (beyond initial construction/​rehabilitation/​installation labor) 
• Operational and maintenance expenses 
• Reimbursement for projects that are already completed 
• Pass-through funding to private entities or initiatives
   

TIMELINE
 

• Applications Open on October 1, 2025 
• Applications Close on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CT 
• Grant Recipients Notified by late February 2026 
• Grant Funds Disbursed to Selected Recipients by March 1, 2026 
• Project Implementation Period: March 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027
• Final Grant Reports Due March 12, 2027

GM on Main Street Grant Program 2025: Road Safety Innovation for Downtowns

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The GM on Main Street Grant Program aims to enhance downtowns through transformative and innovative road safety and traffic calming initiatives in communities near GM facilities. The program provides funding for innovative road safety and traffic calming projects that will improve the safety, accessibility, and vibrancy of downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. We’re looking for ideas that will make your downtown more walkable, safe, accessible, and attractive for both visitors and residents. Proposals should focus on projects that promote pedestrian safety and traffic calming initiatives to improve quality of life in our Main Streets. Made possible by General Motors, this grant program prioritizes applications that are focused on road safety and traffic calming, innovative, inclusive, feasible, and replicable or easily scalable for other Main Street programs. 

Non-profit organizations and local government entities located in this year's eligible counties can submit their project proposals from Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. CT to Friday, February 13, 2026 at 11:59p.m. CT. Please note that project proposals for the $60,000 GM on Main Street Grant should be feasible to complete and be usable by the public by November 30, 2026. 

Grantees will be selected by a review panel and alerted of their award by late April 2026.

Grant recipients will each receive $60,000 to implement their project and will have seven months to complete their projects (May 1 – November 30, 2026). Recipients will be required to submit progress reports at the three- and six-month mark following the grant disbursement, and a final report will be due just after the full seven-month implementation period. All reports are to be completed using a template provided. Recipients will be required to attend three cohort meetings (to be scheduled with the group of grantees once selected). 

The application period will be open through Friday, February 13 at 11:59 p.m. CT. This application form cannot be changed once submitted. We recommend that you draft and save your responses in a separate document, and then copy and paste your responses into this form once ready to submit to ensure that no materials are lost.

Make sure to read all information on program eligibility, eligible grant expenses, project inspiration & resources, review criteria, and tips for submitting a strong application on the GM on Main Street Grant Program webpage.
 

HOW TO APPLY 

Review the eligibility and grant criteria to ensure your community meets application requirements. All eligible communities can submit their proposals by completing this application form and reviewing the program terms and conditions. The grant application period will close on Friday, February 13, 2026 at 11:59pm CT. Applications will be reviewed by a review panel and applicants will be alerted of an award decision by late April 2026.

Grant recipients will each receive $60,000 to implement their ideas and will have seven months to complete their projects. Recipients will be required to submit progress reports at the three- and six-month mark following the grant disbursement, and a final report will be due just after the full seven-month implementation period. All reports are to be completed using a template provided. Recipients will be required to attend three cohort meetings (to be scheduled with the group of grantees once selected). 

Eligible counties were selected based on their proximity to GM facilities, so only certain counties in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin will be eligible for the program. Click here for a full list of eligible communities.
 

REVIEW CRITERIA 

Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria: 

• Road Safety and Traffic Calming Focus: Proposed idea must be a local initiative located in a publicly accessible location in the downtown or commercial district, and projects must focus on road safety and/​or traffic calming measures. Projects should elevate GM’s and MSA’s priorities to promote pedestrian safety and traffic calming initiatives and to improve quality of life in our Main Streets. 
• Innovation: Proposed idea represents innovative, experimental, creative and/​or entrepreneurial approaches to road safety and traffic calming on Main Street.
• Inclusivity and Accessibility: Main Street America believes that Main Streets are for everyone. The proposed idea must consider community needs and intentionally include the local community in project design and execution.
• Feasibility: Proposed idea is feasible given grant amount and program timeline. Project must be completed and usable by the public by November 30, 2026.
• Replicability: Proposed idea is something that could be modeled and/​or scaled for other Main Street programs to adopt and implement.
   

ELIGIBILITY 

Who can apply?

• Applicants must be located within an eligible county. Eligible counties feature or are adjacent to a GM Facility. View the list of eligible counties.
• Applicants must be 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) non-profit organizations or local government entities.
• Applicants may submit up to one (1) application per organization. 
• Previous GM on Main Street grantees are eligible to apply again for the 2025 – 2026 grant cycle. Previous GM on Main Street grantees must demonstrate successful completion of their prior grant project in their application.
   

What types of grant expenses are eligible?

Requested funding must be for a physical road safety project.

Eligible Grant Uses:

• Construction/​installation supplies and materials
• Equipment
• Labor costs for construction/​rehabilitation/​installation/​artist fees
• Artist’s supplies and fees associated with a community engagement design process (i.e. artful bike racks or traffic calming features informed by facilitated community discussions) 
• Other physical items
• One-off event costs/​programming for initial activation of the space
• Engineering and architectural plans or fees (up to 20% of $60,000 grant budget)

Ineligible Grant Uses:

• Staff salaries (labor beyond initial construction/​rehabilitation/​installation costs)
• Operational and maintenance expenses
• Reimbursement for projects that are already completed

TIMELINE 

• Applications Open on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 
• Applications Close on Friday, February 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT 
• Grant Recipients Notified by late April 2026 
• Grant Funds Disbursed to Selected Recipients by May 1, 2026 
• Project Implementation Period: May 1, 2026 – November 30, 2026
• Final Grant Reports Due December 7, 2026
   

INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR 

Learn more about the GM on Main Street Grant Program application process, eligibility requirements, and other criteria in an informational webinar taking place on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 12:00p.m. CT. You can register for the webinar here! A recording of the informational session will be posted on the program webpage.

Program Terms & Conditions

Grantee will be required to: 

• Submit two progress reports and one final report to MSA on the implementation of the projects and their local impact. Note: report form and further instructions will be provided after grantees are selected. For the Final Report, Grantee will report: Local dollars raised or leveraged as a result of the GM On Main Street Grant Program; new partnerships created as a result of the GM On Main Street Grant Program; any replication of their grant-winning ideas in other communities; additional metrics of success
• Communicate progress status and any questions in a timely manner.
• Attend two to three GM on Main Grant 2026 virtual grantee cohort meetings, to be scheduled with the cohort once selected.

 Non-performance:  

• Grantees will have until November 30, 2026 to complete their projects.  
• The GM On Main Street Grant funds will be paid to Grantees upfront and in full upon award.  
• If a Grantee does not complete its project by November 30, 2026, the completion date may be extended at the sole discretion of Main Street America and General Motors, or Main Street America may request that the Grantee return funds. 

About the Award
Since its founding, the Main Street program’s success has depended upon the vision and determination of leaders committed to community. To celebrate these directors and recognize the outstanding leadership of the Main Street program’s own founder, Main Street America introduced the Mary Means Leadership Award in 2019.
Annually at the Main Street Now conference, the award is a celebration of an outstanding leader(s) per year and highlights the critical role that leadership plays in shaping the Main Street movement.
The Mary Means Leadership Award nomination process will be an open call to any and all leaders at local Main Street organizations and Coordinating Programs.
This campaign aims to:
· Showcase the importance of leadership to the Main Street movement.
· Provide recognition to and celebrate a diverse group of innovative Main Street leaders from across the country.
· Amplify local and/or state achievement at the national level.
Criteria
Nominee must be currently employed by or volunteer (including Board Members) with a local Main Street America or Coordinating Program. Applicants must have an active Main Street America membership.
Open nomination process - individuals can nominate themselves or be nominated by others.
The nominations must demonstrate how the individual:
o Builds local capacity
o Leads through strategy

o Centers equity in work
o Brings together diverse stakeholders through shared vision
o Demonstrates commitment to continuous learning
o Advances community preservation ethic in their work
o Exhibits innovation and ingenuity

Supplemental Material: Letters of Support from local stakeholders, including Board, local officials, district business/property owners, residents, etc.)