Funding Opportunities, Resources, Events and Learning: Innovation Matters

USDA Rural Development sent this bulletin at 09/21/2022 09:30 AM EDT

Proclamación Presidencial

Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month

The federal government offers this website to celebrate the observance. “We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success.”

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Funding

Funding Opportunities Supporting Infrastructure

Broadband ReConnect Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers funding for construction, improvement or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. Recorded Webinar materials (Round 4). Application Deadline: 11/2/2022

Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) program to expand middle mile broadband infrastructure and reduce the cost of connecting unserved and underserved areas. Application Deadline: 9/30/2022

HUD Older Adults Home Modification Grants
U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD offers “set aside” funding supporting rural projects for home modifications and limited repairs for low-income, elderly homeowners. Application Deadline: 10/13/2022

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 funding for agriculture producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install, and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. Application Deadline: 10/31/2022 and 3/31/2023

The Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP)
U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD funds to facilitate and encourage innovative homeownership opportunities on a national, geographically diverse basis through the provision of self-help homeownership housing programs. Applicants must propose to use a significant amount grant funds in at least two states. Application Deadline: November 11/7/2022

Emergency Rural Health Care Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Track One: Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted

Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development

USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development loan and grant program that provides zero-interest loans and grants to current and former eligible Rural Utilities Service borrowers to then use the funds to help local businesses finance projects to create and retain jobs or finance community facility projects. Stakeholder Announcement. Federal Register. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office on a quarterly basis - 9/30/2022, 12/31/2022, 3/31/23 and 6/30/23

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program provides loans and grants to a non-profit entity, tribe or institution of higher education as a Microenterprise Development Organization (MDO) to establish revolving loan funds to provide loans to rural microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office on a quarterly basis - 9/30/2022, 12/31/2022, 3/31/23 and 6/30/23

Intermediary Relending Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program which provides low-interest loans to local lenders or “intermediaries” that re-lend the funds to businesses to improve economic conditions and create new opportunities in rural communities. Stakeholder Announcement. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office on a quarterly basis - 9/30/2022, 12/31/2022, 3/31/23 and 6/30/23

Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
HUD program which enhances the capacity and ability of rural housing development organizations, Community Development Corporations, Community Housing Development Organizations, rural local governments and Indian tribes to carry out affordable housing and community development activities in rural areas for the benefit of low-and moderate-income families and persons. Application Deadline: 10/11/2022

Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration offers this program to support community-based partnerships and collaborations aimed at promoting access to health care for under-resourced and underserved children, youth, and their families. Application Deadline: 10/12/2022

Reconnecting Communities Pilot Discretionary Grant Program
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
This DOT Pilot program will help reconnect communities that were previously cut off from economic opportunities by transportation infrastructure through for public engagement, planning activities, capital construction projects and technical assistance. DOT Navigator. NOFO. Application Deadline: 10/13/2022

Healthy Homes Production Grant Program
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
This HUD program takes a comprehensive approach to addressing multiple childhood diseases and injuries in the home by focusing on housing-related hazards in a coordinated fashion, rather than addressing a single hazard at a time. Application Deadline: 10/18/2022

Continuum of Care to Address Unsheltered and Rural Homeless
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
HUD funding for efforts by nonprofit providers and state and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families and communities by homelessness. Includes funds set aside to address homelessness in rural communities. Application Deadline: 10/20/2022

AFRI Competitive Grants Program Education and Workforce Development Program
U.S. Department of of Agriculture
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) support in seven areas: agricultural workforce training; professional development for agricultural literacy; training of undergraduate students in research and extension; fellowships for predoctoral candidates; fellowships for postdoctoral scholars, a new program for food and agricultural non-formal education and evaluation of NIFA’s agricultural literacy and workforce development portfolio. Application Deadline: 10/27/2022

Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA grants to establish technical assistance centers across the nation to communities with environmental justice concerns. Application Deadline: 11/1/2022 (extended)

Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy funding to small rural hospitals purchase equipment or training to attain value-based payment and care goals or purchase health information technology, equipment, or training. Application Deadline: 11/8/2022

Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE)
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
The ARC offers this new Multi-State Funding for applicants to highlight partnerships across multiple states and provide a plan that showcases the economic impact of proposed project. Application Deadline: Accepted on a Rolling Basis

SPOTLIGHT: USDA-EPA Partnership to Provide Wastewater Sanitation to Underserved Communities USDA and EPA announced the Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative to jointly leverage technical assistance resources to help historically underserved communities identify and pursue federal funding opportunities to address their wastewater needs and eliminate harmful exposure to backyard sewage.

Funding Opportunities for Tribal Communities

Community Development Block Grant Program for Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD funds for the development of Indian and Alaska Native communities, including housing, public service facilities, healthcare entities and economic development projects. Application Deadline: 10/24/2022

FY23 Species Recovery Grants to Tribes
U.S. Department of Commerce
The National Marine Fisheries Service grant supports tribally-led management, research, monitoring, and outreach activities that have direct conservation benefits for ESA-listed species. Application Deadline: 10/31/2022

Institute of Museum and Library Services
Grants to support museum services. Both Application Deadlines: 11/15/2022

Bloomberg Fellows Indigenous Scholars
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Center for American Indian Health provides public health training, scholarships and stipends for individuals who are currently working with organizations in the areas of adolescent health, addiction and overdose, environmental challenges, obesity and violence. Application Deadline: 12/1/2022

AmeriCorps State and National Native Nations Grants
AmeriCorps
Program funding supporting activities that are designed to improve lives, strengthen tribal communities, and solve local problems through service and volunteering. Application Deadline: 4/5/2023

Resources and Publications

¡Presente! | National Museum of the American Latino Visit this site to explore the “A Latino History of the United States” exhibit presented by The Smithsonian Institute.

Advancing Equity with Community Data Partnerships: Request for Comments The White House requests information to gather input on how the Federal government can support equitable data collaborations with communities and organizations in order to identify barriers and facilitate equitable social and economic outcomes. Responses are due October 3, 2022.

Apply for National Recreation Trail Designation by November 1st The National Recreation Trail (NRT) program works to preserve and celebrate our nation's pathways. Trails that are designated will be announced publicly on National Trails Day in June 2023. Other resources: US Forest Service designation process for NRTs | Department of Interior designation process for NRTs | Preview and Checklist for online NRT application.

Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation CMRA CMRA was developed in August 2022, as part of an interagency partnership working under the auspices of the U.S. Global Change Research Program and with guidance from the U.S. Federal Geographic Data Committee. The project was funded by the Department of the Interior and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The site was developed by Esri, working under contract to NOAA. NOAA hosts and manages CMRA website.

USDA Food Loss and Waste News Learn about the latest news and resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on preventing food loss and waste.

The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Joint Office is offering technical assistance on a wide range of clean school bus deployment topics, including electric bus basics, charging equipment, utility connections, bus performance, and operational considerations like routing and maintenance. Also check out DOE’s Electric Bus Video Technical Assistance Series

Events/Learning

Spotlight! RWIN 2022 Regional Workshops – Topic: Federal Grants

USDA’s Rural Workforce Innovation Network (RWIN) present this regional series on the Federal Grant Process and Management. Attendees will learn how to access, explore, and apply for federal grants. This is a collaborative event with presentations by USDA Rural Development, U.S. Health and Human Services, U.S. Economic Development Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Housing and Urban Development. Attendance is recommended by region, but participants may join any day.

9/29 - Midwest Registration
10/13 - West Registration
10/27 - Northeast Registration
11/17 - South Registration

9/22: ReConnect Round 4 "Ask Me Anything” USDA Rural Development will provide an opportunity for attendees to ask any question about the ReConnect Program.

9/22: Equity in Focus Summit - Live in Washington DC - U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau and The Worker Institute @ ILR-Cornell co-host a day-long conversation on how prioritizing gender and racial equity promotes a strong and just economy.

9/26-28: 2022 National Tribal Health Conference & 50th Anniversary in Washington DC.

9/28: Duty to Serve Webinar – Presented by the Housing Assistance Council

9/28: Internet for All – NTIA Local Coordination in NOFOs: What successful coordination activities look like to engage governments, community groups, Tribals and underrepresented populations.

9/28: The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) Lessons Learned Webinar - Learn about the Placemaking local design workshops and hear from community leaders and design partner, To Be Done Studio.

10/5-6: NCBA CLUSA’s 5th Annual Cooperative IMPACT Conference. In person/Washington DC and virtual.

10/11: NeighborWorks Rural Initiative and USDA Webinar Series – Mutual Self-Help Housing.

10/25: Tools for Rural Communities from USDA, Council of Development Finance Agencies.