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What is a Grant-In-Aid?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A grant-in-aid is a grant from a national government to a regional government, as for example from the British government to the City of London. Grants-in-aid are usually used to provide funding for projects which regional governments are reluctant or unable to fund. In addition to being given to governments, they can also be given to agencies, institutions, and individuals, as long as it can be demonstrated that the funds will be used for a public service project.

Regional governments are expected to raise a lot of their operating costs on their own, but national governments are also aware that some projects are too large for regional governments to handle. A grant-in-aid is used when the national government does not want to handle the administration of the project, but simply to make funds available for the purpose of doing the project. However, money is not handed out with no strings attached.

Grant-in-aids are usually used for projects that a regional government cannot afford.
Grant-in-aids are usually used for projects that a regional government cannot afford.

A regional government may be required to meet certain standards for a grant-in-aid. For example, before being given grants to cover repair, maintenance, and expansion of public roads, a regional government might have to agree to provide reports about accidents and other incidents which happen on the road. Likewise, a regional government which wants money to subsidize housing for low income residents might be required to maintain demographic statistics which the government can use, or may be required to screen all applicants in accordance with national guidelines.

Block grants are general grants-in-aid, while a categorical grant is a grant-in-aid which has been earmarked for a very specific purpose. For example, a city could apply for a community development block grant which could be used to fund a variety of community projects which would benefit the community in some way. Conversely, it could also apply for a categorical grant-in-aid which would cover the construction of a new bridge.

These grants are used to fund activities which will benefit the public. This can include direct public assistance such as programs which are intended to provide services to low income people, or the funding of research and development which will have long term benefits. For example, a grant-in-aid provided to a university for cancer research benefits public health, but also provides employment for researchers and support staff, which in turn benefits the local economy. In addition, adding research programs to a university enhances its reputation, which can also provide positive impacts for the local community.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

starrynight

@JessicaLynn - I actually don't really like this idea. I think that states need to be more independent from the federal government. Giving a state money for something, and then basically creating stipulations about using it, is just another way the federal government asserts their authorities over states.

Also, I noticed in the article that sometimes a grant-in-aid is given if the local government is "reluctant" to fund a certain project. Maybe there's a reason they are reluctant! I think in those kinds of cases, the federal government should just mind their own business and leave the situation alone!

JessicaLynn

A grant-in-aid sounds like a win-win situation to me. The county or other area gets their money, but the federal government doesn't have to oversee the entire project.

I think this sounds like it could be a great option for things that are better organized on the state level like roads. The state is better equipped to know what needs to be done to the roads, but might not have the money to fund it.

It also makes sense that the regional government should have to report on what is being done with the money. I don't see the federal government just giving money to the state and then forgetting about it!

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    • Grant-in-aids are usually used for projects that a regional government cannot afford.
      By: anekoho
      Grant-in-aids are usually used for projects that a regional government cannot afford.