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Access to Housing and Economic Assistance for Development (AHEAD) applications are submitted by our members working in partnership with local nonprofits, government agencies, and tribal organizations (including tribal governments) on targeted economic development and housing projects located in Arizona, California, and Nevada. All applications must be submitted through the Bank's secure portal.

Each year, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, the Bank allocates funding to the AHEAD program. In the 2024 funding round, the Bank has allocated $4 million. This year’s grant recipients were announced in early October

View an informative 2024 AHEAD program webinar to learn about the application, disbursement, and compliance process along with tips for preparing a successful application and budget. 

Projects receiving AHEAD funding must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• create or retain jobs that have annual salaries at or below HUD area median income (AMI): 100% AMI in urban areas or 115% AMI in rural areas;

• benefit or provide services to households at or below HUD AMI: 100% AMI in urban areas or 115% AMI in rural areas; or provide services or benefits to the community.

Housing projects that are eligible for funding through the Bank’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP) are not eligible for AHEAD funding.

Since program inception in 2004, the Bank has awarded over $25 million in AHEAD grants to about 800 economic development and housing projects in Arizona, California, and Nevada. View Awarded Projects for details about the organizations and projects that have benefited from AHEAD grants in prior years.