Neighborhood Voluntary Tax Incentive Contribution Agreement
Improving housing and quality of life.
The Neighborhood Voluntary Tax Incentive Contribution Agreement (VTICA) is part of the City of Cincinnati’s Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) Program in which commercial tax abatement recipients contribute 15% of the value of a development tax incentive back to affordable housing (7.5%) and neighborhood quality of life projects (7.5%).
The purpose of Neighborhood VTICA funds are to improve the quality of life within a neighborhood. Neighborhood VTICA contributions may be allocated to permanent improvement projects such as monumentation, placemaking events, pedestrian safety projects, landscaping/streetscaping, neighborhood signage, parks or improvement of public lands or buildings, street lighting, and other permanent improvements; and neighborhood service programs furthering urban redevelopment such as educational programs for adults or children, programs benefiting seniors or low-income households, workforce training, and other neighborhood service programs.
HomeBase Cincinnati administers the Neighborhood VTICA program and the portion of funding allocated to neighborhood quality of life projects. The amount of money individual neighborhoods have available is based on how many new developments, with a CRA that includes a VTICA, come to that neighborhood. Under the current ordinance, the Neighborhood VTICA funding must be used within the neighborhood for which the funding was collected and cannot be combined and shared with other neighborhoods. (See Section 8 of City Ordinance 275 – 2017).
For downtown and Over-the-Rhine projects, VTICA payments fund the Streetcar. Therefore, the neighborhood funds are to be used for community improvements in neighborhoods outside of downtown and Over-the-Rhine.
ELIGIBLE NEIGHBORHOODS MAP
The interactive map to the right shows which neighborhoods are eligible to apply for Neighborhood VTICA funding now and which will likely be eligible next year (see key below). Please note, the city-wide affordable housing portion of VTICA (7.5%) is managed by the Cincinnati Development Fund and is not included in the VTICA amounts denoted on the map. The city-wide affordable housing portion of VTICA (7.5%) is not available through this funding application. This map will be updated each year as the City informs HomeBase of CRA & VTICA agreements by neighborhood.
Whether or not a neighborhood has a Tax Incremental Financing district(s) is also included on the map. For more information about TIF availability and processes for applying for TIF please visit the City of Cincinnati’s website here: https://www.choosecincy.com/districttifs .
KEY
Green - Neighborhoods that have > $10,000 and may apply for funding now.
Orange - Neighborhoods that will likely have enough funds to apply in 2026 or in upcoming years.
Gray - Neighborhoods which currently do not have VTICA funding.
REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR FUNDING
Below is a summary overview of basic eligibility to apply. The full requirements will be listed on the application, which will be linked at the bottom of this page on August 1st, 2025.
Neighborhood Eligibility:
VTICA Funding is available according to the number of development projects taking place in each neighborhood and thus the availability of funding per community varies.
For this process, each neighborhood must have at least $10,000 of VTICA funds collected by HomeBase Cincinnati to be eligible to apply for VTICA funding. HomeBase will inform a neighborhood’s community organizations when this threshold is reached. Please see the map for neighborhoods that are eligible to apply now, and those that will likely be able to apply in coming years.
Organizational Eligibility:
Any business association, community council, community development corporation, or community-based organization housed within a neighborhood that meets the following criteria may apply for VTICA funding that is available within their neighborhood:
Applicants must show proof of non-profit status
The organization submitting an application must demonstrate that some portion of its purpose / mission is to promote the quality of life and growth of a neighborhood.
Applicant(s) must demonstrate collaboration and/or support from other community-based organizations
Types of Eligible Projects:
Eligible projects fall into three kinds. Neighborhood organization(s) can apply for VTICA for the betterment of their neighborhood through the following options.
Neighborhood Service Programs:
Eligible expenses may include program costs such as program materials utility bills, renting space, general operating expenses, paid staff, etc
Implementation Projects:
Eligible expenses may include acquisition costs, paid staff, external consultants, project materials, or other project costs for park improvements, pedestrian safety/ streetscape improvements, development projects etc.
Community Engagement & Placemaking:
Eligible expenses may include. anything that brings the community together around a goal, such as murals, recreation, arts, placemaking, social events, etc.
Other Requirements:
To alert and show proof of communications to all community organizations within a neighborhood of intended application/project for VTICA.
If application is for a proposed future project, the community should apply now to make the community and VTICA committee aware.
HomeBase will create an open commentary forum for intended projects within a neighborhood, at least two weeks before the committee reviews those applications.
2025 Eligible Neighborhoods (VTICA fund has reach > $10,000)
Bond Hill
Camp Washington
Carthage
CUF
Hyde Park
Lower Price Hill
Madisonville
Mt. Auburn
Oakley
Walnut Hills
2025 VTICA Application Timeline:
Application Open August 1st, 2025 - September 15, 2025
Application Review & Selection Committee Meets - September 2025
Award Announcements - October 2025
* Please note, this timeline is subject to change.
VTICA Application and Program Design Committee Members (2023-2024):
Mike Cappel - HomeBase Board Member, Rumpke
Kate Greene - HomeBase Board Member, College Hill CURC
Elizabeth Bartley - Invest in Neighborhoods
Kevin Wright - Previous HomeBase Board Member, Yard & Co.
Brandon Rudd - HomeBase Board Member, Cincinnati Regional Chamber
Kathy Schwab - HomeBase Board Member
John Reiser - Cincinnati Development Fund
Robie Suggs - Previous HomeBase Board Member, Warsaw Federal
Rosa Christophel - HomeBase Executive Director
Interested in learning more about Community Reinvestment Area (CRA)/VTICA funding for Developers?
Please review this CRA overview from the City of Cincinnati Department of Community and Economic Development.
