Bloomington, Indiana – A small grant can put a bike repair stand on a neighborhood corner, help children learn to ride, or give residents another way to move around Bloomington without a car.
That is the idea behind the city’s 2026 Local-Motion Grant Program, which is now accepting proposals for community projects that encourage walking, rolling and biking. Applications are due Friday, October 9.
The program offers grants of up to $2,400 for individual projects, with as much as $7,500 available across all successful applicants during the annual funding cycle. Nonprofit organizations, neighborhood associations and local businesses are eligible to apply, although each organization may submit only one project proposal.
Rather than focusing on large infrastructure projects, Local-Motion supports smaller community-driven ideas that can make sustainable transportation more useful, accessible or familiar to Bloomington residents. Projects should engage the public or provide education connected to active transportation.
Previous grants show how broad that definition can be.
Past recipients have included a rollator lending program at the Monroe County Public Library, new bicycle repair equipment for the Bloomington Community Bike Project, and a bike maintenance station for the Summit Hill Community Land Trust. Funding has also supported a children’s bike club at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington.
The grant program is operated in partnership with Bloomington’s Transportation Commission and forms part of the city’s broader effort to strengthen a culture where walking, rolling and bicycling are practical transportation choices.
Organizations considering an application are encouraged to review the program guidelines before preparing a proposal. Applications can be submitted through the city’s online application portal.
Questions about eligibility or the application process can be directed to David Brantez, Bloomington’s Alternative Transportation Coordinator, at [email protected].
With a maximum award of $2,400, the grants are modest by design. But past projects demonstrate how relatively small investments can translate into equipment, programs and resources that residents can use directly in their neighborhoods.
