Voluntary Tax Incentive Contribution Agreement

Improving housing and quality of life.

The Voluntary Tax Incentive Contribution Agreement (VTICA) is a program in Cincinnati that contributes 15% of the value of a development tax incentive back to affordable housing and neighborhood quality of life projects. The money is used for affordable housing and community improvements in neighborhoods outside of downtown and Over-the-Rhine. For downtown and Over-the-Rhine properties, the payment funds the Streetcar. The amount of money individual neighborhoods receive is based on how many new developments come to that neighborhood and how many get tax breaks with a VTICA.

The purpose of VTICA funds is to improve the quality of life and encourage intra-community organization collaboration. Under the current ordinance, the 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).

ELIGIBLE NEIGHBORHOOD MAP

The interactive map shows which neighborhoods are eligible to apply for funding now and which will likely be eligible next year. This map will continue to be updated as the City informs HomeBase of CRA & VTICA agreements by neighborhood. We included the TIF Districts or Tax Incremental Financing funding amounts in the map as well to be a resource to anyone who visits this page. Please note, the city-wide affordable housing portion of VTICA, or the 7.5% of the 15%, managed by the Cincinnati Development Fund, is not represented on the VTICA amounts denoted on the map, and are not eligible through this funding application.

KEY

  • Green - Neighborhoods may apply for funding now.

  • Orange - Neighborhoods that will likely have enough funds to apply in 2025 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 follow requirements are listed within the application portal available at the bottom of this page.

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.

Neighborhood VTICA Threshold: For this process, each neighborhood should have at least $10,000 of VTICA funds collected by HomeBase Cincinnati from their respective neighborhood development projects 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 ablet to apply in coming years. In addition to the VTICA amounts listed per neighborhood, the TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) amounts are listed per neighborhood as well.

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. 

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.

  1. Operational Support:

    i.e. utility bills, renting space, general operating expenses, paid staff, etc

  2. Implementation Projects:

    i.e. Acquisition costs, paid staff, external consultants, project materials, or other project costs, park improvements, pedestrian safety, etc.

  3. Community Engagement:

    i.e. anything that brings the community together around a goal, such as murals, streetscape improvements, 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.

Eligible to apply 2024 Neighborhoods (VTICA fund has reach > $10,000)

  • Bond Hill

  • Lower Price Hill

  • Mt. Auburn

  • Walnut Hillsm

  • Madisonville

  • Oakley

2024 VTICA Application Timeline:

  • Application Open August 1st-Friday October 4th, 2024

  • Application Review & Selection Committee Meets October-November 2024

  • Award Announcements by December 2024.

VTICA Application and Program Design Committee Members:

  • 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.