| Title |
Organization |
Grant Deadline | Description | Category | Funding Amount | Geography | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program | USDA |
Past Deadline: May 16, 2019. Beginning farmer education for adult and young audiences in the United States can generally be traced back to the advent of the 1862 and 1890 Morrill Land-Grant Acts. But, for the first time, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub .L. No. 110-234, Section 7410) appropriated $75 million for FY 2009 to FY 2012 to develop and offer education, training, outreach and mentoring programs to enhance the sustainability of the next generation of farmers. The Agriculture Act of 2014 provided an additional $20 million per year for 2014 through 2018. The reasons for the renewed interest in beginning farmer and rancher programs are as follows: the rising average age of U.S. farmers; the 8% projected decrease in the number of farmers and ranchers between 2008 and 2018; and the growing recognition that new programs are needed to address the needs of the next generation of beginning farmers and ranchers. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka the 2018 Farm Bill) reauthorized the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and provides mandatory funds for which supports education, mentoring, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers and ranchers. |
ranchers, Farm Bill, outreach, programs food | $600,000- $50,000 | National | Link | |
| Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program | USDA | 12/31/2024 |
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. |
housing, infrastructure, facilities, rural | Grants and Loans available. Award amount varies. | United States | Link |
| Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages | USDA | 12/31/2024 |
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. |
Adaptation, Emergency Management, Water, Health, Natural Resources | The maximum grant is 75 percent of the project cost. | Alaska, Coastal | Link |
| Rural Business Development Grants | USDA |
Deadline Passed. Most Recent Deadline February 28, 2023. 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. |
small business, rural business, family-owned, private business, rural communities | Grants range from $10,000 up to $500,000. | United States | Link | |
| Individual Water & Wastewater Grants | USDA |
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. |
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 | |
| Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Program (WAMS) | USDA |
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. |
women, minorities, STEM, rural, food security, sustainability, agriculture, natural resources, education, economic health | Up to $400,000 | National | Link | |
| USDA Housing Preservation Grants | USDA |
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. |
Infrastructure, public health, rural housing | Varies | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
| Crop Insurance in Targeted States Program | USDA |
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. |
crop insurance, education, farm management, planning | Alaska- $203,000 | Alaska | Link | |
| Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program | USDA |
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. |
Education, Natural Resources, Research, Adaptation, Mitigation, Land, Health, Energy, Water | Varies | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
| Oregon Environmental Quality Incentives Program | USDA |
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. |
agriculture, conservation planning, natural resources | Oregon | Link | ||
| Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentives Program (VPA-HIP) | USDA |
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. |
Conservation, recreation | varies | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
| Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) FY 2019 | USDA |
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. |
rural development, tribal housing, facilities, development projects, non-profit housing, economic development, infrastructure, capacity building | $50,000-$250,000 | United States | Link | |
| Community Facilities Economic Impact Initiative Grants | USDA |
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. |
community facilities, development, economic depression, rural areas, public health | Varies | Rural Areas | Link | |
| Conservation Stewardship Program | USDA | 12/31/2024 |
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. |
Stewardship, Conservation, IRA | Varies | All 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean and Pacific Island areas. | Link |
| Washington Environmental Quality Incentives Program | USDA |
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. |
natural resources, agriculture, water and air quality, conservation, | Washington | Link | ||
| Demonstration Projects to End Child Hunger | USDA |
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. |
Health, Hunger | varies | Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska, Midwest | Link | |
| Community Facilities Tribal College Initiative Grants | USDA | 12/31/2024 |
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. |
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 |
| Pandemic Support for Certified Organic and Transitioning Operations | USDA |
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. |
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 | |
| USDA Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans | USDA |
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. |
Renewable energy, Agriculture, small businesses | Unknown | National, agriculture & small rural business | Link | |
| Alaska Environmental Quality Incentives Program | USDA |
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. |
conservation, agriculture, natural resources, water and air quality, greenhouse gases, wildlife habitat, invasive plant species, energy efficiency | varies | Alaska | Link | |
| Water & Waste Disposal Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands | USDA | 12/31/2024 |
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. |
low-income communities, public health, safe drinking water, waste disposal | Varies | Rural Areas, Tribal Lands | Link |
| Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) | USDA |
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. |
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 | |
| Rural Energy Pilot Program (REPP) | USDA |
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. |
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 | |
| 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 |
| Water & Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants | USDA | 12/31/2024 |
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 |
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 |
| 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:
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 | |
| Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants | USDA | 12/31/2024 |
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:
|
housing, rural areas, low-income communities, technical assistance | varies | Rural Areas | Link |
| National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program | USDA |
Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: 9/9/2022. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the availability of up to $17 million in funds in the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) to support projects in topic areas including, but not limited to: Develop, enhance, and exercise state and Tribal animal disease outbreak emergency response plans; Support livestock and poultry biosecurity; enhance animal disease traceability for a disease outbreak; Support outreach and education on animal disease prevention, preparedness, and response topics. Learn more and apply here. |
Agriculture, livestock disease preparedness, education | Varies. | National | Link | |
| Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program | USDA |
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. |
Rural Development, Economic development, Business Development, Community Development, management, infrastructure, local economy, | Maximum Grant Amount up to $200,000 | National | Link | |
| Intermediary Relending Program | USDA | 12/31/2024 |
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. |
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 |
