U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden today invited applications for grants to help organizations improve housing, community facilities, and community and economic development in rural areas.
USDA is making up to $5 million in grants available under the Rural Community Development Initiative program. The program provides funding to organizations that provide financial and technical assistance for housing, community facilities, or community and economic development projects. Eligible applicants include public (including Tribal) organizations, nonprofit organizations, and qualified private organizations.
Grants may be used to train sub-grantees to conduct educational training on homeownership or minority-owned business entrepreneurship. Funds also may be used to provide technical assistance to sub-grantees on:
- strategic plan development
- accessing alternative funding sources
- training and resources for board operations, management, financial systems and information technology
The minimum grant award is $50,000 and the maximum award amount is $500,000. Awardees must contribute matching funds equal to the amount of the grant.
USDA is particularly interested in applications that will advance Biden-Harris Administration priorities to:
- Reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.
- Ensure all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development (RD) programs and benefits from RD-funded projects.
- Help rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.
Additional information on these key priorities is available at www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
Electronic applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on July 10, 2024. The deadline for paper applications is 4 p.m. local time, July 15, 2024.
Additional information is available on page 48870 of the June 10, 2024 Federal Register or by contacting your local USDA Rural Development office.
