Welcome to the Vision Partnership Program!
Round 2 of the 2023 Vision Partnership Program is now closed.
Program Dates and Deadlines
Cash Grant — 2023 Second Round
- July 3, 2023: Round 1 grant cycle opens
- August 18, 2023: Deadline for pre-application meetings (optional, but strongly encouraged)
- September 8, 2023: Grant applications due by 4:00 p.m. — online submittals only
- November 8, 2023: Grant awards announced
- Winter 2023/2024: Grant contract preparation
- Spring 2024: Anticipated project start dates
Please note that for the 2023 VPP cycles, individual pre-applications meetings are optional. However, municipalities are strongly encouraged to contact the Chester County Planning Commission to discuss their proposed project. Requests for pre-application meetings and other questions about the grant program can be directed to William Deguffroy, Community Planning Director and VPP Grant Administrator at 610-344-6285 or wObfuscationdeguffroy@Obfuscationchesco.org.
Program Overview
The Vision Partnership Program (VPP) – Cash Grant is a grant available to Chester County municipalities and multi-municipal groups seeking to improve their planning programs while achieving consistency with and implementation of the goals, objectives, recommendations, and map of Landscapes3. There are two VPP cash grant application rounds per year, funding permitting. Learn more about VPP cash grants awarded since 2018.
The Cash Grant Manual provides the guidelines and procedures for successfully applying for, obtaining, and completing a VPP cash grant. If the municipality, multi-municipal group, or their consultant fail to adhere to the provisions of this manual the County reserves the right to deny an application, rescind a grant, or deny reimbursement.
Program Purpose
Recognizing the benefits of grant awards to municipal planning projects, the Chester County Board of Commissioners established VPP in 1996 to promote cooperation between local governments and the County while implementing Landscapes, the County’s Comprehensive Plan. The program was revised in 2010 to reflect Landscapes2 and revised again in 2019 to reflect Landscapes3.
The purpose of VPP is to advance consistency with and implementation of the county comprehensive plan while accomplishing impactful, lasting, and positive benefits for municipalities through innovative municipal planning; multi-municipal planning; and new and revised municipal plans, ordinances, and planning studies that address opportunities and issues of community concern.
Program Eligibility
The VPP – Cash Grant program is open to all Chester County municipalities. Eligible applicants include a single municipality or a multi-municipal group. General project types that may be eligible include plans, ordinances, ordinance amendments, and planning studies that advance one or more of the Landscapes3 goals and objectives, and implement one or more of the Landscapes3 recommendations at the municipal or multi-municipal level.
Projects enabled by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), Act 247, as amended, such as comprehensive plans (or elements thereof) or ordinances, shall demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the MPC. Projects not adopted under the provisions of the MPC are defined as "Planning Studies" for the purposes of VPP.
Cash Grant Manual and Application
- Vision Partnership Program 2023 — Round 2 Application Closed
- 2023 VPP Cash Grant Manual
- Appendix A Grant Application Format February 2023
- Appendix B Grant Reimbursement Form February 2023
- Appendix C Urban Center Revitilization Plan Requirements February 2023