Funding Opportunities for Rural Infrastructure

ReConnect Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development recently announced that it will begin accepting applications on November 24, 2021, for up to $1.15 billion in loans and grants to expand the availability of broadband in rural areas. $350 million in grant funding  - with no matching funds requirement - is being made available for Tribal governments and socially vulnerable communities.

Rural Business Development Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
This program is designed to provide grants to support technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue. Each year, Congress has mandated that a portion of this program is set-aside to fund projects that benefit members of federally recognized Tribes. Applications are due no later than 4:30 PM local time on February 28, 2022.

Tribal College Initiative Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers funding to 1994 Land Grant Institutions (Tribal Colleges) to make capital improvements to their educational facilities and to purchase equipment. Funds can be used by Tribal Colleges for infrastructure improvements, to purchase equipment, vehicles, education and cultural projects, and to develop essential community facilities. Grants up to $250,000 per land grant institution. Application Deadline: Ongoing

The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Food and Nutrition Service provides USDA Foods to income-eligible households living on Indian reservations, and to American Indian households residing in approved areas near reservations or in Oklahoma. Many households participate in FDPIR as an alternative to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) because they do not have easy access to SNAP offices or authorized food stores. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Water and Waste Disposal Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands and Colonias
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program provides low-income communities, which face significant health risks, access to safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal facilities and services. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Drinking Water and Waste Disposal for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers this program to help extend access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems for households and businesses in remote and extremely isolated parts of the United States. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Emergency Rural Health Care Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Emergency Rural Health Care Grants are designed to help broaden access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines, rural health care services, and food assistance through food banks and food distribution facilities. Track One: Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency. Application Deadline: Until all funds are exhausted

Farm to School Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Food and Nutrition Service Grants to plan, establish, and/or sustain a Farm to School program that improves access to local foods and nutrition/agriculture resources in schools. A Frequently Asked Questions document will also be available through the Farm to School Grant Applicant Resources Page of the FNS website. Please keep an eye on The Dirt e-newsletter for updates about the Farm to School Grant application! Application Deadline: Jan. 10, 2022

Funding Opportunities for
Community and Economic Development

Indigenous Communities Program
U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration offers American Rescue Plan funding specifically for Indigenous Communities to develop and execute economic development projects to recover from the pandemic and build economies for the future. Application Deadline: Rolling

Indian Housing Block Grant - Competitive Grant Program
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
HUD’s Office of Native American Program offer eligible applicants grants to carry out a range of affordable housing activities. Application Deadline: Dec. 1, 2021

American Indian Public Health Resource Center Technical Assistance
American Indian Public Health Resource Center
This program offers tribes in North Dakota technical assistance to improve health systems, access to services, and health outcomes in these rural areas for public health services and programming, research, education, and policy. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs
U.S. Department of Energy 
This program offers free technical assistance and an online curriculum for Tribal leaders and professionals on developing and financing renewable energy projects on tribal lands. Application Deadline: Ongoing

NIH Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health
The National Institutes of Health
Program to support research into culturally appropriate solutions to the unique sociopolitical, historical, and environmental stressors that may exacerbate health inequities. Application Deadline: Various Dates Until September 2023

Drinking Water and Waste Disposal for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers this program to help extend access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems for households and businesses in remote and extremely isolated parts of the United States. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Publications and Resources

The USDA Office of Tribal Relations leads the intergovernmental role for USDA with tribes. Efforts through consultation, coordination and collaboration support the preservation of the government to government relationship and enhance access to USDA’s various programs and services to tribes, tribal organizations and citizens. Learn more.

USDA Rural Development is committed in supporting Indian Country and Alaska! Please contact us if you have questions or would like support: USDA Rural Development’s Tribal Relations Team is situated within the Innovation Center’s Strategic Engagement Division. The team consists of Tedd Buelow - Tribal Coordinator & Tribal Relations Team Lead, Don Irby - Tribal Relations Specialist, Melissa Sturdivant - Tribal Relations Specialist, Chris DeFreese - Tribal Relations Specialist, and Macie Rouse - Pathways Student Trainee. The team provides technical assistance, training and outreach in coordination with Rural Development program staff and aims to increase access to Rural Development’s programs and resources throughout Indian Country and Alaska. Please contact aian@usda.gov for additional information and assistance.

Rural Development Fiscal Year 2022 Key Priorities 
This funding priority supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s mission to help the people of rural America build back better. USDA will notify stakeholders that a program is offering funding priority when the program’s application window opens and will continuously update the Priority Points Program Chart.

Collaborating for Prosperity with American Indians and Alaska Natives – USDA Rural Development Programs for Tribes, Tribal Families, Children, and Communities
USDA Rural Development publication noting its critical investments and programs in infrastructure, schools, health clinics, housing and businesses that benefit American Indians and Alaska Natives and other rural families.

Native American Labor Market Dashboard
This Federal Reserve Bank dashboard provides essential metrics for the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations and provides up-to-date labor market data.  

Renewable Energy Online Learning
The Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs offers a free online curriculum for Tribal leaders and professionals on developing and financing renewable energy projects on tribal lands. Technical assistance is also available.  

Indigenous Community Leadership in Response to COVID-19: A Call to Action for the Philanthropic Sector
This Native Americans in Philanthropy report discusses the effect of COVID-19 in tribal communities, federal responses to these challenges, and the efforts of Native people in combatting the disease. The report features perspectives from tribal communities and a Highlight Video.  

Technical Assistance for Tribes & TDHEs Administering Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in partnership with U.S. Department of Treasury made awards to technical assistance providers that can provide support to Emergency Rental Assistance grantees, including with the design and administration of their ERA program. For technical assistance, Tribes and TDHEs should email their regional HUD Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) office with their contact information and topic area of needed support.

Tribal Connections
This USDA U.S. Forest Service map is interactive and shows the connection between national forests and grasslands, tribal trust lands and tribal lands ceded as part of a treaty.

Native CDFI Financial and Lending Performance Report 
Oweesta Corporation produces this annual report to examine the health of lending activities and investment in Indian Country. The report offers insight into Native CDFI operations and financial performances to improve decision-making.

Opportunities and Challenges for Native CDFI Housing Lenders: Innovative Mortgage Lending Solutions in Native Communities
Oweesta’s study provides an in-depth exploration of the housing market in Indian Country. The report includes: an analysis of institutional challenges and solutions undertaken by Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI); and actionable recommendations for Native CDFIs and partners to adapt to the growing demand for housing.   

TribalNet Magazine Fall 2021
TribalNet produces this bi-annual magazine to discuss topics on technology and leadership in Indian Country. See the agency update from USDA Rural Development on page 36.

IHS and VA renew partnership to improve health of Native veterans
The Indian Health Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs have partnered to improve the health status of American Indian and Alaska Native veterans and signed a new memorandum of understanding aimed at improving the health status of American Indian and Alaska Native veterans.

Why We Serve: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces
The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian online exhibition honors the generations of Native Americans who have served in the armed forces of the United States—often in extraordinary numbers—since the American Revolution.

Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation Investments to fight the Cycle of Poverty
Using resources as noted in the USDA Resource Guide for Rural Workforce Development, since 2001, USDA Rural Development has provided Four Bands Community Fund, serving the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, 26 awards from the Rural Business Development Grant program. In addition to the revolving loan fund, Four Bands used Rural Development-funded resources to provide technical assistance and training through its Eagle Butte business incubator, advising entrepreneurs on how to finance and manage their rural businesses. Four Bands helps establish and support small and emerging businesses in a reservation area which historically has struggled with high poverty and unemployment. Please contact our office for technical assistance on workforce development opportunities with Rural Development.

Events and Learning Opportunities

Recorded USDA Rural Development Tribal Webinars

• Rural Workforce Innovation Network (RWIN) Webinar - Entrepreneurship and Workforce Training Opportunities for Tribal Communities
  
  
• Intertribal Agricultural Council (IAC) Webinar – Rural Businesses Development Grants and Value-Added Producer Grants Question and Answer
  
  
• Intertribal Agricultural Council (IAC) Webinar - Value Added Producer Grants
  
  
• Native CDFI Network Webinar – USDA Rural Development Housing Opportunities

USDA Rural Development Events:

11/10: Farm Labor Housing Technical Assistance Listening Session #2

11/10: ReConnect Program FY2022 FOA Webinar 

11/16: ReConnect Program Regulation Webinar 

11/18: ReConnect Program FY2022 FOA Webinar 

11/18: Rural Workforce Innovation Network Virtual Workshop: Federal Priorities to Ensure Equitable Access to Workforce Funding Opportunities  

11/30 & 12/1: USDA RD Water & Wastewater Environmental Programs Tribal Consultation

Find past workshop recordings at the USDA Rural Development YouTube Channel.

Other Learning Opportunities:

Quick Links to COVID-19 Recovery Resources

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
• USDA Rural Development's NOSA/NOFAs
• USDA Rural Development’s Search All Programs
• Grants.gov
• Rural LISC e-newsletter
• First Nation’s Development Institute
• Oweesta Corporation
• Indian Health Service
• The Department of Veterans Affairs
• The Smithsonian Institution: National Museum of the American Indian

USDA Rural Development Innovation Center

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

www.rd.usda.gov

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