High Energy Cost Grants (USDA) |
USDA |
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Applications are currently being accepted. The USDA Rural Development High Energy Costs Grant assists energy providers and other eligible entities in lowering energy costs for families and individuals in areas with extremely high per-household energy costs (275 percent of the national average or higher.) The funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of facilities serving eligible communities. NOTE: Program details may change over time. Before you begin an application, please confirm you have the most current information by emailing Rural Electric Program staff or consulting the program instructions listed in the section above titled "What Governs this Program?"
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Energy conservation, Infrastructure, Community development |
$100,000-$3,000,000 |
National |
Link |
FY 2019 Farm to School Grant |
USDA |
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Deadline Passed 12/04/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) established aFarm to School program in order to assist eligible entities, (schools, school districts, agricultural producers, Indian tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations, state agencies and local agencies), through grants and technical assistance, in implementing farm toschool programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools
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Health, food security, local economy, agriculture, school health, public |
$20,000-$100,000 |
United States |
Link |
Household Water Well System Grants |
USDA |
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Deadline Passed 07/20/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. This program helps qualified non-profits and Tribes create a revolving loan fund (RLF) to extend access to clean, reliable water to households in eligible rural areas.
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Food/Water Security, Water Systems Development, Community Development, Infrastructure Development. |
Unknown. |
National. Rural areas and towns with 50, 000 or fewer people - check eligible addresses. Tribal Lands in rural areas. Colonias |
Link |
USDA Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Program |
USDA |
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Applications are accepted year round. Provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Businesses must be in an area other than a city or town with a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants and the urbanized area of that city or town. Check eligible business addresses. Agricultural producers may be in rural or non-rural areas.
Funds may be used for renewable energy systems, such as:
- Biomass (for example: biodiesel and ethanol, anaerobic digesters, and solid fuels)
- Geothermal for electric generation or direct use
- Hydropower below 30 megawatts
- Hydrogen
- Small and large wind generation
- Small and large solar generation
- Ocean (tidal, current, thermal) generation
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Renewable energy, Agriculture, small businesses |
$1,500-$500,000 |
National, agriculture & small rural business |
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 |
Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant |
USDA |
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Previous Deadline: 04/30/2020. 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 |
USDA Community Connect Grants |
USDA |
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Deadline passed as of June 17, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. 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 |
Community Facilities Economic Impact Initiative Grants |
USDA |
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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 |
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 |
Community Facilities Tribal College Initiative Grants |
USDA |
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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 |
Collaborative Forest Restoration Program |
USDA |
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Grant status unknown for FY 2016. The U.S. Forest Service requests applications for forest restoration projects on Federal, Tribal, State, County, Land Grant, or Municipal forest lands in New Mexico that are designed through a collaborative process that includes affected communities and other stakeholders. Individuals, businesses, groups and other organizations are encouraged to collaborate on the design, implementation, and monitoring of projects that value local and traditional knowledge, promote healthy and productive forests and watersheds, and build ownership and civic pride.
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Conservation, Research, Education, Land, Natural Resources, Water |
Individual awards of up to $360,000 |
Southwest, New Mexico |
Link |
Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) |
USDA |
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Deadline unknown for 2017. 2016 deadline passed on June 30, 2016. To advance projects which support long-term community and economic growth strategies that reflect both multi-jurisdictional stakeholder collaboration and capitalize upon the unique strengths of the rural area. Through this provision, USDA Rural Development is empowered to work further with rural communities to align resources with long-range and multi-jurisdictional challenges and needs by leveraging federal, state, local, or private funding. Applicants to any of several existing Rural Development programs whose projects support the implementation of multi-jurisdictional strategic economic and community development plans may apply for priority consideration through SECD. Consideration will be based on: (1) How well the project supports a multijurisdictional plan and (2) How well the plan addresses collaboration, regionalism, and investments from other federal and philanthropic agencies. Interested participants are encouraged to have their plans reviewed by their State's staff early in the process for feedback and possible modification prior to submitting with the formal application.
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Rural Development |
see website |
National |
Link |
REAP Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program |
USDA |
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Deadline Passed 01/31/2020. Deadline Unknown for 2021. 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
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Renewable energy, Infrastructure, Development |
up to $100,000 |
Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska |
Link |
Water & Waste Disposal Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands and Colonias |
USDA |
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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 |
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Water for Agriculture Challenge Area |
USDA |
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Deadline passed as of August 4, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown. This AFRI Challenge Area addresses critical water resources issues such as drought, excess soil moisture, flooding, quality and others in an agricultural context. Funding will be used to develop management practices, technologies, and tools for farmers, ranchers, forest owners and managers, public decision makers, public and private managers, and citizens to improve water resource quantity and quality. The long-term goal of the AFRI Water for Agriculture Challenge Area is to tackle critical water issues by developing both regional systems for the sustainable use and reuse, flow and management of water, and at the watershed and farm scales, water issues focused on production and environmental sustainability efforts. Project types supported within this Challenge area are multi-function Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects and Food and Agricultural Enhancement (FASE) Grants.
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Water Resources, Drought, Flooding, Water Quality, Agriculture |
varies, total program funding $10,700,000 |
National |
Link |
USDA Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants |
USDA |
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The USDA Rural Business Cooperative-Service Agency is accepting applications for Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance grants to establish programs 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 |
Unspecified |
National |
Link |
Northwest Climate Hub |
USDA |
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Deadline passed as of December 5, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown.
Contingent upon available funds the Northwest Climate Hub requests proposals to support our mission to serve farms, forests and rangelands in a changing climate. An estimated amount of $350,000 is available for approximately 5-10 projects. There are additional funds available (at least $50,000) to fund one proposal that is designed to assist the NW Climate Hub in serving Alaska, such as efforts focused on Alaska meeting its food security needs under climate change.
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Alaska, agriculture, wilderness, climate change, adaptation, mitigation |
Varies. 5-10 intended awards with up to $350,000 total program funding. |
Alaska, Pacific Northwest, Unties States, West Coast |
Link |
Solid Waste Management Grant Program |
USDA |
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Deadline Passed 12/31/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. Funds may be used to: Evaluate current landfill conditions to determine threats to water resources in rural areas; provide technical assistance and/or training to enhance operator skills in the maintenance and operation of active landfills in rural areas; provide technical assistance and/or training to help associations reduce the solid waste stream; and provide technical assistance and/or training for operators of landfills in rural areas which are closed or will be closed in the near future with the development/implementation of closure plans, future land use plans, safety and maintenance planning, and closure scheduling within permit requirements.
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water resources, landfill conditions, technical assistance, solid waste management |
up to $1,000,000 |
Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Coastal, Alaska |
Link |
USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help Socially-Disadvantaged Producers |
USDA |
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Funding will be made available through USDA's Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant Program (formerly the Small, Socially-Disadvantaged Producer Grant Program), which assists organizations that provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups in rural areas. Examples of technical assistance are conducting feasibility studies, developing business and strategic plans, and providing leadership training.
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Agriculture, technical assistance, Business Development |
The maximum award under this notice is $175,000. |
National |
Link |
USDA Housing Preservation Grants |
USDA |
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Deadline Passed 08/09/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. 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 |
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 |
Rural Business Development Grants |
USDA |
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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 Economic Development Loan & Grant Program |
USDA |
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Deadline Passed 03/31/2019. Deadline Unknown for 2020. The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. The ultimate recipients repay the lending utility directly. The utility is responsible for repayment to USDA.
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Economic Development, Rural Development, Grants and Loans |
Up to $300,000 in grants may be requested to establish the RLF
Up to 10 percent of grant funds may be applied toward operating expenses over the life of the RLF
Up to $2 million in loans may be requested |
National |
Link |
Water & Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants |
USDA |
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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 |
National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost-Share Grant Program |
USDA |
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Deadline passed as of June 15, 2016. Deadline for 2017 unknown.The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council is seeking innovative grants proposals for program development, research, and collaboration to address the following two strategic priority issues: proposals that demonstrate the connection between the personal benefits of urban forests and quality of life within a community through community engagement; and proposals that design an urban forestry recruitment program and retention strategies that support existing urban forestry academic curricula. Urban and community forests demonstrate benefits including urban heat island reduction. NOTE: Pre-proposals are due by June 17, see website for details.
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Research, Health, Natural Resources, Land, Conservation, Mitigation, Adaptation, Wildlife |
Individual awards of up to $600,000 |
Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, National, Alaska |
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 |
Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants |
USDA |
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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 |
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 |
Intermediary Relending Program |
USDA |
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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 |
Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program |
USDA |
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Deadline Passed 10/01/2018. Deadline Unknown for 2019. 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. Letters of intent are due 9/1/2018.
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biofuels, renewable chemicals, biobased products, renewable energy, manufacturing, development |
varies |
National |
Link |