Funding

Title Organizationsort descending Grant Deadline Description Category Funding Amount Geography Website
Business and Industry Loan Guarantees USDA 12/31/2024

Rolling Deadline. This program bolsters the availability of private credit by guaranteeing loans for rural businesses.

Rural areas, business development, credit, local economy Up to $25 million Rural Areas Link
Broadband Technical Assistance USDA

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.

rural, broadband, pollution, internet, technical assistance, training $50,000 - $1,000,000 National Link
USDA Local Foods, Local Places Program (Obama Admin Archives) USDA

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.

public health, Agriculture, food justice, sustainability, human health, disease, local, economy Varies Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest Link
SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grant USDA 12/31/2024

Rolling deadline. This program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities with predevelopment feasibility studies, design and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects.

water, waste disposal, rural Varies Rural areas with a population of 2500 or less Link
Community Connect Grant USDA

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: June 20, 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.

development, economy, rural communities, Unknown National Link
Multi-Family Housing Direct Loans USDA

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.

housing, rural communities, multi-family housing, improvement, development varies Rural Areas Link
AgrAbility - Assistive Technology Program for Farmers with Disabilities USDA

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.

agriculture, equity, inclusion, social justice, disability services $150,000 - $180,000 National Link
Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) USDA

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.

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
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) USDA 12/31/2024

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.

 

IRA, farmland, conservation, wetlands Varies National Link
REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program USDA 12/31/2024

Rolling Deadlines. REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program.Refer to Application Package AND Application Instruction links to obtain all necessary forms for a complete application

Renewable energy, Infrastructure, Development, IRA Varies Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska Link
Multi-Family Housing Loan Guarantees USDA 12/31/2024

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
housing, rural communities, development, infrastructure varies Rural Areas Link
Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program USDA - FNS (Food and Nutrition Service)

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).

Food, nutrition See grant guidance National Link
Farm to School Grant USDA - FNS (Food and Nutrition Service)

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.

Food, nutrition, Agriculture, Education, Schools, Development $15,000 to $100,000 National Link
Community Wildfire Defense Grant USDA Forest Service

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.

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

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.

Urban forestry, community forestry, management, innovation $100,000 - 500,000. National Link
Forest Service Wildfire Risk Reduction / Wildfire Response RFA USDA Forest Service

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.

shared stewardship, co-management, wildfire management, fire adapted communities, wildfire response $25,000-$150,000 National Link
Great Lakes RFA USDA Forest Service

Deadline Passed 05/11/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. The U.S. Forest Service will support projects in the Great Lakes basin that implement the following strategic, priority actions: restore tree canopy lost to infestation by emerald ash borer; create or improve green infrastructure through planting of trees and other vegetation; restore the function of coastal wetland areas through planting of native trees and diverse vegetation.

habitat restoration, green infrastructure, planting, wetland restoration $50,000- $200,000 Great Lakes Basin Link
Wood Innovations Funding Opportunity USDA Forest Service

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.

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
Urban and Community Forestry Program USDA Forest Service

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: June 1, 2023. The Forest Service is requesting proposals from eligible entities that are working to provide equitable access to trees and green spaces and the benefits they provide. The Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Program is a technical, financial, and educational assistance program, delivering nature-based solutions to ensure a resilient and equitable tree canopy where more than 84 percent of Americans live.

IRA, community health, green space, urban landscape $100,000 - $50,000,000 National, US territories Link
Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

The Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFPCGP) has since 1996 promoted self-sufficiency and food security in low-income communities through community food projects (CFP), Planning Projects and Training and Capacity Building projects (TCB).

Food Security $10,000 to $300,000 National Link
Tribal Equity Grants Program USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Deadline is Ongoing. The 1994 Land-Grants use Equity to support faculty who develop classes and degree programs that teach science and math to Native Americans. The programs focus on agriculture, natural resources and human sciences. The faculty strive to graduate students who can achieve their life goals. Since many 1994 Land-Grants are two-year schools, some students aspire to advanced degrees. Other students seek training to begin a vocational career in agriculture. Still other students want to earn certifications just to improve their daily lives. Faculty have used Equity funding to help build laboratories, conduct remedial courses, create new degree programs in forestry and provide students stipends so they can complete their education. The goal is to graduate empowered students who can embrace their future with new skills and knowledge.

math, science, agriculture, natural resources, human sciences, vocational training, education Varies National Link
Tribal Extension Grant Program USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Deadline is Ongoing. The Tribal College Extension grant program allows the 1994 Land-Grants to create extension offices for their reservation communities. Each extension office works with reservation communities to build programs that target local needs. The result is a diversified and targeted outreach. Reservation youth participate in fun activities in a safe environment. Farmers and ranchers gain science-based insights to improve their productivity. Financial literacy training enhances rural reservation economies. The 1994 Land-Grants also provide culture-centered family activities to restore Native languages, traditions and agriculture. Within this grant program are two types of funds: Capacity grants and Special Emphasis. Capacity grants fund an entire Extension office which can have many mission areas and clients. Special Emphasis are targeted, short-term pilot projects that allow Extension educators to explore new ways to better serve their community.

reservation communities, financial literacy training, education, culture, native languages, traditions, agrculture Varies Link
Funding available to help Oregon landowners mitigate effects of drought USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

In Oregon, NRCS will focus the funding on cropland, rangeland and forestry conservation practices. For cropland practices, NRCS will assist producers with planting and managing cover crops and implementing emergency soil erosion measures. These practices will help farmers protect the soil from erosion, promote more organic matter in the soil, and aid in better water infiltration.

Habitat Conservation, resource conservation, Drought Up to $2.5 million in funding available to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to mitigate the effects of drought in counties that have secured drought declarations from the Governor’s Office. Oregon Link
Water & Waste Disposal Technical Assistance & Training Grants USDA Rural Development 12/31/2023

Application Window is from October 1st - December 31st each year. This program helps qualified, private non-profits provide technical assistance and training to (a) identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste problems; (b) assist applicants in preparing applications for water and waste disposal loans/grants; and (c) assist associations in improving operation and maintenance of existing water and waste facilities in eligible rural areas.

Water, waste disposal, training Varies National Link
Local Food Promotion Program USDA, AMS

Deadline Passed for 2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. The Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) offers grant funds with a 25% match to support the development and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises to increase domestic consumption of, and access to, locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets. There are two types of project applications: planning grants and implementation grants. LFPP Planning Grants are used in the planning stages of establishing or expanding a local and regional food business enterprise. LFPP Implementation Grants are used to establish a new local and regional food business enterprise, or to improve or expand an existing local or regional food business enterprise.

food security, local foods, agriculture, farm and ranch operations, development, food business enterprise Planning grants: $25,000 - $100,000 Implementation grants: $100,000 - $500,000 National Link
Specialty Crop Multi-State Program USDA, AMS

Deadline Passed 10/1/2019. Deadline unknown for 2020. The Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) offers grants to solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops by funding collaborative, multi-state projects that address the following regional or national level specialty crop issues: food safety; plant pests and disease; research; crop-specific projects addressing common issues; and marketing and promotion.

crops, food safety, invasive species, disease, research, marketing $250,000-$1,000,000 National Link
Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) USDA, Farm Service Agency

Grant deadline unknown for 2016. The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) provides financial assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and non-industrial private forest land who wish to establish, produce, and deliver biomass feedstocks.

Agriculture, farmers, Forrestry, Biomass $12,500,000 to $22,500,000 National Link
Farmers' Market SNAP Support Grants USDA, Food Nutrition and Consumer Services

Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Under Secretary Kevin Concannonannounced the availability of up to $3.3 million in competitive funding to support the ability of farmers markets to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a form of payment.

Agriculture, Food, nutrition, farmers $15,000 to $250,000 National Link
USDA-FS 2021 Agroforestry Outreach Proposals USDA, FS

Deadline: 5/28/21. The U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) requests proposals to substantially expand and accelerate the availability of science-based information to inform producer decisions on the adoption and design of agroforestry systems. Agroforestry is the intentional integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems to create environmental, economic, and social benefits. The agreements awarded under this announcement will support the USDA goal to strengthen the stewardship of private lands through technology and research, and the need by natural resource professionals for information that supports producer adoption of agroforestry. This Request for Proposals supports the efforts of the National Agroforestry Center (NAC) as identified in Section 8502 of the 2018 Farm Bill.

$35,000 - $100,000 National. Link
Tree Assistance Program (TAP) USDA, FSA

The 2014 Farm Bill authorized the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) to provide financial assistance to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes, and vines lost by natural disasters. TAP is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). To be considered an eligible loss:

  • Eligible trees, bushes, or vines must have suffered more than a 15 percent mortality loss in a stand (adjusted for normal mortality) due to an eligible natural disaster;
  • Mortality loss on a stand of eligible trees, bushes, or vines is based on:
    • Each eligible disaster event, except for losses due to plant disease; and
    • For plant disease, the time period as determined by the FSA for which the stand is infected.
  • The loss must not have been preventable through reasonable and available measures;
  • The loss must be visible and obvious to the FSA representative; if the loss is no longer visible, FSA may accept other loss evidence and determine whether that other evidence substantiates that an eligible loss due to natural disaster occurred; and 
  • FSA may require information from a qualified expert to determine extent of loss in the case of plant disease or insect infestation
natural disasters, rehabilitation, replant, tree health, plant health varies National Link

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