Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) FY 2019 |
USDA |
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Deadline Passed 06/10/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The Rural Housing Service (Agency), an Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the acceptance of applications under the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) program. Applicants must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the Federal grant. These grants will be made to qualified intermediary organizations that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development that will support the community.
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rural development, tribal housing, facilities, development projects, non-profit housing, economic development, infrastructure, capacity building |
$50,000-$250,000 |
United States |
Link |
Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: May 23, 2022. The Agency will make grants to public bodies and private nonprofit corporations, (such as States, counties, cities, townships, and incorporated towns and villages, boroughs, authorities, districts, and Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations) to provide associations Technical Assistance and/or training with respect to essential community facilities programs. The Technical Assistance and/or training will assist communities, Indian Tribes, and Nonprofit Corporations to identify and plan for community facility needs that exist in their area. Once those needs have been identified, the Grantee can assist in identifying public and private resources to finance those identified community facility needs.
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community facilities, infrastructure, planning, training, technical assistance |
up to $150,000 |
National |
Link |
Water & Waste Disposal Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Applications are accepted year-round. This program provides low-income communities, which face significant health risks, access to safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal facilities and services.
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low-income communities, public health, safe drinking water, waste disposal |
Varies |
Rural Areas, Tribal Lands |
Link |
Broadband Technical Assistance |
USDA |
06/20/2023 |
Deadline: June 20, 2023. The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the acceptance of applications for Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. Broadband Technical Assistance provides competitive cooperative agreement funding to eligible entities to receive or deliver broadband technical assistance and training that promotes the expansion of broadband into rural areas. Examples of broadband technical assistance projects may include conducting feasibility studies, completing network designs, and developing broadband financial assistance applications.
The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities:
- Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure;
- Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
- Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.
In addition, the Agency encourages applicants to work with the Rural Partners Network. The Rural Partners Network is an all-of-government program that demonstrates to rural America that the federal government can work differently to serve their unique needs in a way this is community-centered and locally-driven. RPN is a recognition by the Biden Administration that it is time to do more for rural communities. Applicants to this funding opportunity are encouraged to include RPN Community Networks in their proposals by identifying Community Networks as collaborative partners or recipients of service.
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rural, broadband, pollution, internet, technical assistance, training |
$50,000 - $1,000,000 |
National |
Link |
USDA Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans |
USDA |
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The USDA Rural Business Cooperative-Service Agency is accepting applications for Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans to assist agricultural producers and rural small businesses with evaluating energy efficiency and the potential to incorporate renewable energy technologies into their operations.
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Renewable energy, Agriculture, small businesses |
Unknown |
National, agriculture & small rural business |
Link |
Water & Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Applications accepted year round. This program assists low-income communities with initial planning and development of applications for USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal direct loan/grant and loan guarantee programs. The area must also have a median household income below the poverty line or less than 80 percent of the statewide non-metropolitan median household income
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water, waste disposal, planning, development, infrastructure, rural communities |
Maximum of $30,000 or 75 percent of the predevelopment planning costs. |
Rural Areas, Tribal Lands |
Link |
Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Applications accepted continuously. Provides grants to qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction projects. Grant recipients supervise groups of very-low- and low-income individuals and families as they construct their own homes in rural areas. The group members provide most of the construction labor on each other’s homes, with technical assistance from the organization overseeing the project. Funds may be used to:
- Give technical and supervisory assistance to participating families
- Help other organizations provide self-help technical and supervisory assistance
- Recruit families, help them complete loan applications and carry out other related activities that enable them to participate
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housing, rural areas, low-income communities, technical assistance |
varies |
Rural Areas |
Link |
Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities: First Funding Pool |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 8, 2022. Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities pilot projects must focus on the on-farm, on-ranch or forest production of climate-smart commodities and associated reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and/or carbon sequestration. Proposals from $5 million to $100 million are in the first funding pool and should include large-scale pilot projects that emphasize the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production and include direct, meaningful benefits to a representative cross-section of production agriculture, including small and/or historically underserved producers. Learn more and apply here.
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Rural communities, agriculture, forestry, farmers, ranchers, emissions reduction, climate solutions, resilience |
$5 million to $100 million |
National |
Link |
Crop Protection and Pest Management Competitive Grants Program |
USDA |
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Application Deadline April 16, 2019. The purpose of the Crop Protection and Pest Management program is to address high priority issues related to pests and their management using IPM approaches at the state, regional and national levels. The CPPM program supports projects that will ensure food security and respond effectively to other major societal pest management challenges with comprehensive IPM approaches that are economically viable, ecologically prudent, and safe for human health. The CPPM program addresses IPM challenges for emerging issues and existing priority pest concerns that can be addressed more effectively with new and emerging technologies. The outcomes of the CPPM program are effective, affordable, and environmentally sound IPM practices and strategies needed to maintain agricultural productivity and healthy communities.
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pest, food security, human health, agriculture |
$200,000- $325,000 |
U.S |
Link |
Intermediary Relending Program |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Applications accepted year round. This program provides 1 percent low-interest loans to local intermediaries that re-lend to businesses to improve economic conditions and create jobs in rural communities.
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rural communities, local economy, jobs, development |
$250,000; or 75 % of the total cost of the ultimate recipient's project for which the loan is being made, whichever is less. |
Rural Areas |
Link |
Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities: Second Funding Pool. |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: June 10, 2022. Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities pilot projects must focus on the on-farm, on-ranch or forest production of climate-smart commodities and associated reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and/or carbon sequestration. Proposals from $250,000 to $4,999,999 are in the second funding pool and are limited to particularly innovative pilot projects. These projects should place an emphasis on: enrollment of small and/or underserved producers; and/or monitoring, reporting and verification activities developed at minority-serving institutions. Learn more and apply here.
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Rural communities, innovation, underserved communities, agriculture, forestry, farmers, ranchers, emissions reduction, climate solutions, resilience |
$250,000 - $4,999,999 |
National |
Link |
New Beginning for Tribal Students Program |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: March 30, 2022. New Beginning for Tribal Students makes competitive grants to land-grant colleges and universities to provide identifiable support specifically targeted for tribal students. A land-grant college or university that receives this grant shall use funds for, but not limited to, recruiting; tuition and related fees; experiential learning; student services, including tutoring; counseling; academic advising; and other student services that would increase the retention and graduation rate of tribal students enrolled at the land-grant college or university. Learn more and apply here.
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Tribal students, higher education, experiential learning, academic success |
Up to $500,000 |
National |
Link |
Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 3, 2023. This program assists in the development, construction, and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies for the development of Advanced Biofuels, Renewable Chemicals, and Biobased Product Manufacturing by providing loan guarantees for up to $250 million.
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biofuels, renewable chemicals, biobased products, renewable energy, manufacturing, development |
Varies |
National |
Link |
Alaska Native-Service and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program |
USDA |
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Deadline Passed. Latest deadline: March 28, 2023. The purpose of this program is to promote and strengthen the ability of Alaska Native-Serving Institutions and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions to carry out education, applied research, and related community development programs in food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines. Priority will be given to those projects that enhance educational equity for underrepresented students; strengthen institutional educational capacities; prepare students for careers related to the food, agricultural, and natural resource systems of the United States; and maximize the development and use of resources to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs. Learn more here.
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Alaska Native-serving institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, agricultural sciences, career development, equity, youth |
$150,000 - 1,000,000 |
Alaska, Hawaii |
Link |
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Deadline: Year round with periodic ranking cycles announced. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) protects the agricultural viability and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses which negatively affect agricultural uses and conservation values, protect grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring or conserving eligible grazing land, and protecting and restoring and enhancing wetlands on eligible land. ACEP has two components:
- Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) help private and tribal landowners, land trusts, and other entities such as state and local governments protect croplands and grasslands on working farms and ranches by limiting non-agricultural uses of the land through conservation easements.
- Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) help private and tribal landowners protect, restore and enhance wetlands which have been previously degraded due to agricultural uses.
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IRA, farmland, conservation, wetlands |
Varies |
National |
Link |
Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Applications are accepted year round. Provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to:
- Provide microloans to help microenterprises startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund
- Provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs
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business development, rural areas, microenterprise |
Up to $50,000 |
Rural Areas |
Link |
Regional Conservation Partnership Program |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 13, 2022. The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes coordination of Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand our collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through RCPP, NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns they seek to address. This year’s funding includes updates that encourage projects to address climate change, benefit historically underserved farmers, and support urban agriculture.
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Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Farming, Forestry, Ranching, Watershed, Collaboration |
$250,000-$10,000,000 |
National, International (US Territories) |
Link |
USDA Housing Preservation Grants |
USDA |
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Deadline Passed. Latest Deadline: July 11, 2022. The USDA is seeking applications for grants to preserve and repair housing for very-low- and low-income families living in rural areas. The funds are being made available through USDA Rural Development's Housing Preservation Grant program. USDA does not provide funding directly to homeowners under this program.
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Infrastructure, public health, rural housing |
Varies |
Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest |
Link |
Local Food Purchase Assistance Program |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 5, 2022. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will establish cooperative agreements with state and tribal governments for the purpose of supporting local, regional, and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers through food purchasing under the Build Back Better Initiative. These cooperative agreements will allow for entities to procure local, domestic foods that are unique to their geographic area and meet the needs of the populations. In addition to increasing local food consumption, funds are expected to help build and expand economic opportunity for local and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers. Learn more and apply here.
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Food assistance, economic opportunity, food storage, food distribution |
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National |
Link |
Business and Industry Loan Guarantees |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Rolling Deadline. This program bolsters the availability of private credit by guaranteeing loans for rural businesses.
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Rural areas, business development, credit, local economy |
Up to $25 million |
Rural Areas |
Link |
Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentives Program (VPA-HIP) |
USDA |
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The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentives Program (VPA-HIP) encourages private landowners to voluntarily make their land available to the public for wildlife-dependent recreation. States and tribes approved for funding of this Farm Service Agency (FSA) program use the funds as incentives to encourage private landowners of farms, ranches, and forests to make that land available to the public for wildlife-dependent recreation. This may include hunting or fishing. The overall goal of VPA-HIP is to enhance wildlife habitat and management and to boost local economies through activities that attract wildlife enthusiasts.
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Conservation, recreation |
varies |
Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest |
Link |
Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Competitive Grants Program |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 8, 2022. The Farm Business Management and Benchmarking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program provides funds for improving the farm management knowledge and skills of agricultural producers by maintaining and expanding a national, publicly available farm financial management database to support improved farm management. Learn more and apply here.
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Farm business, agriculture, financial management |
Up to $500,000 |
National |
Link |
Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant (IAG) Program |
USDA |
07/19/2023 |
Deadline: July 19, 2023. The Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant (IAG) Program will provide up to $50 million to improve tribal nations’ food and agricultural supply chain resiliency by developing and expanding value-added infrastructure related to meat from indigenous animals like bison, reindeer or salmon. The program will fund projects that focus on expanding local capacity for the harvesting, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling or distribution of indigenous meats.
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food sovereignty, capacity building, infrastructure |
Varies |
National |
Link |
Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Modt recent deadline: June 6, 2022. The Rural Cooperative Development Grant program helps improve the economic condition of rural areas by helping non-profit corporations or higher education institutions in the startup, expansion or operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through cooperative development.
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Rural Development, Economic development, Business Development, Community Development, management, infrastructure, local economy, |
Maximum Grant Amount up to $200,000 |
National |
Link |
Multi-Family Housing Direct Loans |
USDA |
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Applications accepted year round. This program provides competitive financing for affordable multi-family rental housing for low-income, elderly, or disabled individuals and families in eligible rural areas. This program assists qualified applicants that cannot obtain commercial credit on terms that will allow them to charge rents that are affordable to low-income tenants.
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housing, rural communities, multi-family housing, improvement, development |
varies |
Rural Areas |
Link |
Demonstration Projects to End Child Hunger |
USDA |
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The purpose of the demonstration projects is to test innovative strategies to end childhood hunger, including alternative models for service delivery and benefit levels that promote the reduction or elimination of childhood hunger and food insecurity. Projects may include enhanced SNAP benefits for eligible households with children; enhanced benefits or innovative program delivery models in school meals, afterschool snacks programs, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program; and other targeted Federal, State or local assistance, including refundable tax credits, emergency housing, employment and training, or family preservation services, for households with children who are experiencing food insecurity.
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Health, Hunger |
varies |
Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest |
Link |
USDA Community Connect Grants |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. The next application window expected to open early 2023. The Community Connect program serves rural communities where broadband service is least likely to be available, but where it can make a tremendous difference in the quality of life for citizens. The projects funded by these grants will help rural residents tap into the enormous potential of the Internet.
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Development, Internet |
varies |
National, Northwest, Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, Alaska |
Link |
Multi-Family Housing Loan Guarantees |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
This program accepts applications on a continuous basis. The program works with qualified private-sector lenders to provide financing to qualified borrowers to increase the supply of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families in eligible rural areas and towns. Construction, improvement and purchase of multi-family rental housing for low to moderate income families and individuals is the primary objective for this program. Funding may also be available for:
- Buying and improving land
- Providing necessary infrastructure
- For a complete list see Code of Federal Regulations, 7CFR Part 3565.205
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housing, rural communities, development, infrastructure |
varies |
Rural Areas |
Link |
Community Connect Grant |
USDA |
06/23/2023 |
The Community Connect provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities where service does not exist.
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development, economy, rural communities, |
Unknown |
National |
Link |
USDA Local Foods, Local Places Program (Obama Admin Archives) |
USDA |
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Grant deadline unknown for 2016. Communities are invited to apply for assistance from Local Foods, Local Places, a new program supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) to help create more livable places by promoting local foods. Priorities given to communities within Appalachia and surrounding regions, see application for more details.
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public health, Agriculture, food justice, sustainability, human health, disease, local, economy |
Varies |
Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest |
Link |