Innovation Matters: Funding Opportunities, Publications, Events and Learning

USDA Rural Development sent this bulletin at 01/19/2021 04:23 PM EST

Innovation Matters | January 2021 | Issue 2

Bi-weekly list of funding and learning opportunities in rural America.

Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD)

SECD funding is authorized through a Farm Bill provision that supports regional economic and community development planning. For more information, visit: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/strategic-economic-and-community-development.

In This Issue:

Funding Opportunities

Publications

Events and Learning

Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for projects that support strategic regional economic and community development planning. Covered programs reserving SECD funds in Fiscal Year 2021 are: Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program; Community Facilities Loan Guaranteed Program; Water and Waste Disposal Program Loan and Grant Program; Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees; Business & Industry Loan Guarantees; Rural Business Development Grants; and Community Connect Grants. Obligation Deadlines: June 30, 2021, for all programs except the Rural Business Development Grant Program which has a July 31, 2021, obligation deadline.

Webinar: FY 2021 Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) Funding Opportunity
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time
Join USDA to learn about the Fiscal Year 2021 funding opportunity known as Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD). This webinar will introduce attendees to the Innovation Center, provide an overview of Farm Bill changes to SECD and highlight the FY 2021 application requirements and process.

Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities & Flood Mitigation Assistance
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers funding for eligible activities to strengthen the nation’s ability to build a culture of preparedness by reducing disaster losses and protecting life and property from future damages. Application Deadlines: Jan. 29, 2021

Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC)
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Technology Transitions seeks to support the formation and development of regional clusters supporting entrepreneurs and startups by funding innovation-accelerating organizations that demonstrate the ability to advance energy and related technologies in collaboration with and with the support of state, regional and/or local entities. Application Deadline: Feb. 3, 2021

Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Forest Service invites Requests for Proposals for projects to install a thermally led community wood energy system or build an innovative wood product facility. The grants awarded under this announcement are intended to support forest health and stimulate local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood products manufacturing capacity. Application Deadline: Feb. 3, 2021

EPA Grants to Support Water Systems Rural and Small Communities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Grants for technical assistance and training providers to support small drinking water and wastewater systems in rural communities to improve public health and environmental protection by helping to ensure that drinking water in these communities is safe and that wastewater is treated before it is responsibly returned to the environment. Application Deadline: Feb. 12, 2021

Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Products Manufacturing Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides loan guarantees to assist in the development, construction and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies. These technologies are: advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021

Rural Health Care Telecommunications Program
Universal Service Administrative Company
The Telecom Program provides reduced rates to rural health care providers for telecommunications and voice services for the use of telemedicine and telehealth. Eligible services are discounted at the difference in cost between urban and rural areas in your state. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021

Community and Economic Development

Rural Energy for America Program Energy Audit & Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funding opportunity to assist rural small businesses and agricultural producers by conducting and promoting energy audits and providing renewable energy development assistance. Contact State Energy Coordinator with questions. Application Deadline: Feb. 1, 2021

Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making funding available to help agricultural producers and small rural businesses develop new products from raw agricultural products or to promote new markets for established products. Application Deadline: March 16, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 22, 2021

Rural Community Development Initiative
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grants to qualified intermediary organizations to provide technical assistance and training to help nonprofit organizations and communities develop their capacity to undertake housing, community facility or economic development projects in rural areas. Federal Register. Application Deadline: March 22, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 29, 2021

Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grants to rural communities with limited staff and resources to build the capacity needed to access USDA funding to support essential community facilities. Funds may be used to help rural communities identify financial resources, improve the management of community facilities, and prepare reports, surveys and applications. Federal Register. Application Deadline: March 22, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 29, 2021

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making grant and loan/grant opportunities available for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. REAP loan guarantees are streamlined under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative. Loan & Grant Combination - March 31, 2021 | Loan Guarantees – Ongoing

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers loans and grants to establish revolving loan funds to provide loans to rural microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs, or to provide training and technical assistance to micro entrepreneurs. Federal Register. Application Deadline: March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021 to the RD State Office.

Intermediary Relending Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development invites applications under this Intermediary Relending Program for fiscal year FY 2021, subject to availability of funding. Application Deadline: March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021 to the RD State Office.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) re-opened January 11, 2021
U.S. Small Business Administration
This program offers new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers funding to help small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic address job retention and other expenses through March 31, 2021.

Rural Healthcare Connect Fund
Federal Communications Commission
Universal Service Administrative Company provides assistance to healthcare providers for eligible expenses related to broadband connectivity at a flat discounted rate of 65 percent. Participants can apply as a member of a consortium or a stand-alone entity. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021

Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grants to plan or implement food projects designed to meet the needs of low-income individuals and increase community self-reliance concerning food and nutrition. Application Deadline: May 4, 2021

Opportunities for Tribal Communities

USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Department seeks to increase the number of American Indian and Alaska Native students studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and related disciplines with this program that combines classroom study with paid work experience that leads to employment at USDA. Application Deadline: Jan. 31, 2021

Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands
The U.S. Department of Energy
The Department provides funding to support technology on tribal lands. View the webinar and presentation slides. Application Deadline (Extended): Feb. 11, 2021

Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program
Indian Health Service
This loan repayment program is available for undergraduate and graduate health professional educational loans in return for full-time clinical service in IHS programs. Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2021

Udall Scholarship
Morris K Udall and Stewart L Udall Foundation
Scholarships for Native American and Alaska Native undergraduate students pursuing careers related to tribal public policy, native healthcare, and the environment. Application Deadline: March 2, 2021

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations Nutrition Education Grant
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Funding to provide nutrition education for participants of the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, resulting in healthier food choices and a better understanding of healthy food preparation methods. Application Deadline: March 8, 2021

Publications and Resources

FEMA Resource Roadmaps
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Get help navigating some of the challenges and resources available to address the COVID-19 pandemic. This resource roadmap allows the searcher to find potential solutions and applicable resources, including federal funding support and technical assistance.

New $10,000 EIDL Grants (Advance): Do you Qualify?
SCORE
Supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), offers this resource to outline the basics for small businesses on grants (advances) associated with SBAs Economic Injury Disaster Loan.

ASCENT
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
SBA launched an interactive digital platform packed with resources designed for the “missing middle” or growth-oriented female entrepreneur looking to grow their business.

Business Response Survey to the Coronavirus Pandemic Top of Form
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
This information, combined with data collected by other current BLS surveys, made aid in understanding how businesses responded during the pandemic and show changes in employment, wages, job openings and terminations, employer-provided benefits, and safety and health.

Event Opportunities

What's New with PPP and Other Relief Options for Small Businesses
Jan. 21 | Webinar
SCORE’s Mentor Program offers current information to learn about what’s in the new relief package with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) featuring a Q&A section to discuss what this could mean for your small business.

Healthcare Redefined: Transforming the Future of Health IT
Jan. 26 | Webinar
Nextgov and Cisco present a webinar on innovations in telehealth, electronic health records and 3D printing as the federal government is utilizing emerging technology to improve everything from contact tracing to vaccine approval processes. They will discuss how agencies can ensure that these devices and large swaths of critical data remain secure as government continues to modernize for mission success.

Agritourism around the US: Findings from a National Survey of Farms Open to Visitors for Education, Entertainment, Recreation, Hospitality and Product Sales
Jan. 28 | Virtual Meeting
National Extension Tourism Team plans to share research from a multi-state team of specialists gathered from farms, ranches, and vineyards on their tourism activity ranging from overnight stays, tastings, events, community supported agriculture (CSA), tours, to hunting. Survey questions included products and experiences offered, motivations, challenges, profitability measures, and plans for the future. They received 1834 responses representing all 50 states and they plan to share the survey findings with a focus on regional differences across the US. Registration is required.

Registration is Open for NARC’s Virtual National Conference of Regions!
Feb. 8 - 12 | Virtual Conference
Join the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) for the 2021 National Conference of Regions.

The Agricultural Outlook Forum
Feb. 18 - 19 | Free Virtual Conference
The 97^th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum theme is “Building on Innovation: A Pathway to Resilience”. This is the largest annual meeting and premiere event, independent of commercial interests, organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It aims to facilitate information sharing among stakeholders and generate the transparency that supports well-functioning open markets and will feature a panel of distinguished guest speakers and breakout sessions.

To access programs that can be used to provide immediate and long-term assistance to rural communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, download the COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide.

Visit www.coronavirus.gov for the latest news from the CDC on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Visit www.rd.usda.gov/coronavirus for the latest news from Rural Development on how we are helping our partners, customers, and stakeholders impacted by COVID-19.

Newsletters, websites and emails from which we gather this information include:

USDA Rural Development’s full Catalog of Programs
Grants.gov
The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Aspen Institute
e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Pew Research Center
Philanthropy News Digest
Rural LISC e-newsletter
National Association of Development Organizations

USDA Rural Development Innovation Center

Email: rd.innovation@usda.gov | Webpage: usda.gov/rdinnovation

www.rd.usda.gov

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