Forest Service Wildfire Risk Reduction / Wildfire Response RFA |
USDA Forest Service |
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Deadline Passed 12/20/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The U.S. Forest Service supports Moving Toward Shared Stewardship Across Landscapes as part of a conceptual framework for making strategic investments across landscapes to co-manage wildfire risk and achieve positive outcomes at the most appropriate scale. Within this framework, Eastern Region Cohesive Fire Strategy Competitive Request for Applications is designed to support and carry out the goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (NCS) across the Midwestern and Northeastern States as well as meet the intent of the current year budget direction. These national goals are to restore and maintain landscapes, create fire adapted communities, and improve wildfire response.
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shared stewardship, co-management, wildfire management, fire adapted communities, wildfire response |
$25,000-$150,000 |
National |
Link |
Community Wildfire Defense Grant |
USDA Forest Service |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: October 7, 2022. This grant aims to assist at-risk communities and tribes in preparing against and reducing the risks due to wildfire by restoring and maintaining landscapes, creating fire adapted communities, and improving wildfire response. Up to $250K is available for qualifying community wildfire protection plan development or updates. Up to $10M is available for qualifying community wildfire protection plan implementation. Tribes are also welcome to apply to the corresponding state Notices of Funding Opportunity. Learn more and apply here.
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disaster prevention and relief, natural resources, fire adaptation |
Up to $10,000,000 |
National |
Link |
FY 22 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program |
USDA Forest Service |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 13, 2022. The Forest Service is seeking to create a national innovative messaging for the Urban and Community Forestry Program that raises awareness of the critical and urgent need to plan, grow, and manage our urban forests to benefit all. Learn more and apply here.
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Urban forestry, community forestry, management, innovation |
$100,000 - 500,000. |
National |
Link |
Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity |
USDA Forest Service |
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Deadline Passed. Most recent deadline: March 23, 2023. The Wood Innovations Grant Program, launched in 2015, stimulates, expands, and supports U.S. wood products markets and wood energy markets to support the long-term management of National Forest System and other forest lands. National focus areas include mass timber, renewable wood energy, and technological development that supports hazardous fuel reduction and sustainable forest management Read the funding announcement here.
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wood energy, wood products, hazardous fuels reduction, forest health, forest management, economic health, environmental health |
The maximum for each award is $300,000. |
National |
Link |
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program |
USDA - FNS (Food and Nutrition Service) |
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The Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program supports projects to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables among low-income consumers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by providing incentives at the point of purchase. There are three categories of projects: (1) FINI Pilot Projects (awards not to exceed a total of $100,000 over one year); (2) Multi-year, community-based FINI Projects (awards not to exceed a total of $500,000 over no more than four years); and (3) Multi-year, FINI Large-Scale Projects (awards of $500,000 or more over no more than four years).
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Food, nutrition |
See grant guidance |
National |
Link |
Farm to School Grant |
USDA - FNS (Food and Nutrition Service) |
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Deadline passed as of December 8, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is charged with implementing the Farm to School Program. In this funding cycle, USDA anticipates awarding approximately $6 million in grant funding to support efforts that improve access to local foods in schools. Beyond the $5 million in funding provided in the HHFKA, in fiscal year (FY) 2016 USDA anticipates the availability of an additional $1 million, subject to appropriation, in grant funding to support placement of volunteer service members (e.g. AmeriCorps, VISTA, local service corps programs, etc.) in schools throughout the country to build or maintain school gardens, incorporate nutrition education into the schools’ culture, and support school food service personnel in procuring or promoting local and regional products for the school meal program - See link for more.
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Food, nutrition, Agriculture, Education, Schools, Development |
$15,000 to $100,000 |
National |
Link |
Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Rolling Deadline. This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.
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housing, infrastructure, facilities, rural |
Grants and Loans available. Award amount varies. |
United States |
Link |
Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Applications accepted continuously. This program provides grants to assist rural communities that have had a significant decline in quantity or quality of drinking water. Grant may fund waterline extensions from existing systems, construction of new water lines; repairs to existing systems, construction of new wells, reservoirs, transmission lines, treatment plants, and other water sources. Priority is given to areas with less than 10,000 people, low-income areas, and communities facing imminent decline and shortage of water.
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Water, Natural Resources, Health, Emergency |
Individual awards range from 150,000 to $500,000 depending on the severity of decline in quantity or quality of water. |
Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska |
Link |
Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: Feburary 25, 2022. The purpose of this program is to establish an Extension presence and support Extension outreach on Federally Recognized Indian Reservations and Tribal jurisdictions of Federally-Recognized Tribes. This program seeks to continue the Land Grants mission of inclusion - providing education and research-based knowledge to those who might not otherwise receive it. Learn more and apply here.
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Land Grant, education, outreach, research, Tribal youth development, economic and workforce development, food sovereignty, Native language and culture preservation |
Up to $360,000 |
National |
Link |
Rural Business Development Grants |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Applications are accepted year-round. Application deadlines vary by state. Check with your local program staff. RBDG is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues. Programmatic activities are separated into enterprise or opportunity type grant activities.
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small business, rural business, family-owned, private business, rural communities |
Grants range from $10,000 up to $500,000. |
United States |
Link |
Rural Energy for America Program Energy Audit & Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants |
USDA |
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Rolling deadline. Provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. This program helps increase American energy independence by increasing the private sector supply of renewable energy and decreasing the demand for energy through energy efficiency improvements. Over time, these investments can also help lower the cost of energy for small businesses and agricultural producers.
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rural development, infrastructure, renewable energy, sustainable |
Unrestricted Grants (up to $500,000) |
National |
Link |
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 |
Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) |
USDA |
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Deadline Passed 2/24/2020. Deadline Unknown for 2021. The purpose of this program is to support research, education/teaching, and extension projects that increase participation by women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in STEM. NIFA intends this program to address educational needs within broadly defined areas of food, agriculture, natural resources, and human (FANH) sciences. WAMS-funded projects improve the economic health and viability of rural communities by developing research and extension initiatives that focus on new and emerging employment opportunities in STEM occupations.
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women, minorities, STEM, rural, food security, sustainability, agriculture, natural resources, education, economic health |
Up to $400,000 |
National |
Link |
Risk Management Education Partnership Program |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 24, 2023. The purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to deliver crop insurance education and risk management training to U.S. agricultural producers to assist them in identifying and managing production, marketing, legal, financial, and human risk.
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climate change, human health, sustainability, agriculture, economy, management, planning, policy |
$5,000 - $300,000 |
National |
Link |
Crop Insurance in Targeted States Program |
USDA |
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Deadline Passed 7/30/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. The purpose of the Targeted States program is to deliver crop insurance education and information to U.S. agricultural producers in States where there is traditionally, and continues to be a low level of Federal crop insurance participation and availability, and producers are underserved by the Federal crop insurance program. These states, defined as Targeted States for the purposes of this RFA, are Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Any cooperative agreements that may be funded will not exceed the maximum funding amount established for each of the Targeted States. Recipients must agree to the substantial involvement of RMA in the project.
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crop insurance, education, farm management, planning |
Alaska- $203,000 |
Alaska |
Link |
Oregon Environmental Quality Incentives Program |
USDA |
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The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to plan and implement conservation practices that improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related natural resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland. Eligible program participants receive financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices, or activities like conservation planning, that address natural resource concerns on their land. Payments are made to participants after conservation practices and activities identified in an EQIP plan of operations are implemented. Contracts can last up to ten years in duration.
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agriculture, conservation planning, natural resources |
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Oregon |
Link |
Community Facilities Economic Impact Initiative Grants |
USDA |
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Application Window Closed. This program provides funding to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural communities with extreme unemployment and severe economic depression. An essential community facility is one that provides an essential service to the local community, is needed for the orderly development of the community, serves a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.
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community facilities, development, economic depression, rural areas, public health |
Varies |
Rural Areas |
Link |
Pandemic Support for Certified Organic and Transitioning Operations |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: February 4, 2022. The USDA has extended the deadline for the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program. This extension is eligible for expenses in 2020 and 2021. Organic farming may help farmers prepare for a changing climate, as organic practices can increase soil water-holding capacity, which can help crops grow in drought years. Learn more and apply here.
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Agriculture, organic, certification, education, pandemic |
25% of a certified operation’s eligible certification expenses, up to $250 per certification category; 75% of a transitional operation’s eligible expenses, up to $750, for each year; OTECP covers 75% of the registration fees, up to $200, per year, for educational events |
National |
Link |
Washington Environmental Quality Incentives Program |
USDA |
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EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers in order to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation or improved or created wildlife habitat. Eligible program participants receive financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices, or activities like conservation planning, that address natural resource concerns on their land. Payments are made to participants after conservation practices and activities identified in an EQIP plan of operations are implemented. Contracts can last up to ten years in duration.
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natural resources, agriculture, water and air quality, conservation, |
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Washington |
Link |
AgrAbility - Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities |
USDA |
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Last deadline: January 19, 2023. The AgrAbility program increases the likelihood that farmers, ranchers, farm workers and farm family members with disabilities will experience success in agricultural production. The program supports projects between State Cooperative Extension System and private, non-profit disability organizations who work in partnership to provide agricultural education and assistance directed at accommodating disability in farm operations for individuals with disabilities, and their families, who engage in farming and farm-related occupations.
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agriculture, equity, inclusion, social justice, disability services |
$150,000 - $180,000 |
National |
Link |
Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Applications accepted continuously. Meant to fund water and waste disposal systems in rural Alaskan Villages. Funds must be used for development and construction of water and wastewater systems to correct dire health and sanitation conditions in those villages. Many communities in remote rural Alaska, where villages are accessible by plane or boat only, are essentially inaccessible during the long, hard winters. They lag far behind the lower 48 States in having safe and dependable drinking water and suitable waste disposal systems available. Construction costs are extremely high. This is due in part to the severe weather conditions, which makes laying pipe difficult, if not impossible. These conditions also require the use of insulated pipe, or in areas of permafrost, above ground utilidors, often with heat traced insulated pipe. The vast distances from the transportation hub of Anchorage to a village increases costs substantially as the material must be delivered by barge or air.
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Adaptation, Emergency Management, Water, Health, Natural Resources |
The maximum grant is 75 percent of the project cost. |
Alaska, Coastal |
Link |
Community Facilities Tribal College Initiative Grants |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Deadline is ongoing. This program provides funding to 1994 Land Grant Institutions (Tribal Colleges) to make capital improvements to their educational facilities and to purchase equipment.
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community facilities, development, educational facilities, infrastructure, renovation and improvements, cultural projects |
Grants up to $250,000 per land grant institution
Funds can be used to pay up to 95% of the project cost |
National |
Link |
Alaska Environmental Quality Incentives Program |
USDA |
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Deadline Passed as of 11/30/2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. Through EQIP, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to eligible individuals and entities to plan and install conservation practices that benefit soil, water, air, plants, and animals. EQIP addresses national resource concerns including improvement of water quality, water conservation , reducing greenhouse gasses, improving wildlife habitat, controlling invasive plant species, and on-farm energy conservation and efficiency.
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conservation, agriculture, natural resources, water and air quality, greenhouse gases, wildlife habitat, invasive plant species, energy efficiency |
varies |
Alaska |
Link |
Broadband Technical Assistance |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent 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 |
Individual Water & Wastewater Grants |
USDA |
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Applications accepted continuously. The purpose of this grant is to provide water and waste disposal facilities and services to low income rural communities whose residents face significant health risks. Every effort is made to identify and fund the neediest projects. This program is only eligible in states with Colonias, and those are Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.
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Adaptation, Water, Health, Natural Resources |
Generally, applicants are expected to borrow as much as they can afford to repay, as in the regular loan program. However, water and waste disposal systems can obtain up to 100 percent grants to construct basic drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste disposal and storm drainage to serve the residents. |
Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas |
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 |
Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 19, 2022. The USDA has opened up grant applications to the RISE program, which seeks to increase equity in rural America by offering grants of up to $2 million to consortiums of local governments, investors, industry, institutions of higher education, and other public and private entities that create projects in distressed communities. Communities that have traditionally had high concentrations of employment in fossil fueled energy production and are transitioning away from this are encouraged to apply. Learn more and apply here.
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Job creation, business development, rural areas, worker training, local economies |
Grant amounts are awarded competitively with a minimum of $500,000 and a maximum grant amount of $2,000,000. |
National |
Link |
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program |
USDA |
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Deadline passed as of June 28, 2017. Deadline for 2018 unknown. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change Challenge Area RFA focuses on the societal challenge to adapt agroecosystems and natural resource systems to climate variability and change and implement mitigation strategies in those systems. In the Agriculture and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change Challenge Area RFA, specific program areas are designed to achieve the long-term outcome of reducing the use of energy, nitrogen, reducing GHG emissions from practices, and water in the production of food, feed, fiber, and fuel; reduce GHG emissions from these agroecosystems; and increase carbon sequestration. Project types supported by AFRI within this RFA include multi-function integrated research, education, and/or extension projects and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants.
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Education, Natural Resources, Research, Adaptation, Mitigation, Land, Health, Energy, Water |
Varies |
Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest |
Link |
Rural Energy Pilot Program (REPP) |
USDA |
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Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: April 19, 2022. USDA has opened up grant applications for communities to further develop renewable energy through REPP. Funds can be used to support community energy planning, community efficiency and weatherization, installing and equipping community scale renewable energy. Learn more and apply here.
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Renewable energy, rural areas, efficiency, weatherization, community development |
Awards to successful applicants will be in the form of cost-share grants for up to 80 percent of total eligible project costs, not to exceed $2 million. |
National |
Link |
Conservation Stewardship Program |
USDA |
12/31/2023 |
Applications accepted continuously. The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance—the higher the performance, the higher the payment.
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Stewardship, Conservation, IRA |
Varies |
All 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean and Pacific Island areas. |
Link |