Funding Opportunities, Resources, Events and Learning: Innovation Matters

USDA Rural Development sent this bulletin at 03/21/2023 11:25 AM EDT

Presidential Proclamation on Women’s History Month, 2023

USDA: Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories

USDA Rural Development Supports Socially Disadvantaged Groups and Value Added Producers! Now accepting applications for grants to support technical assistance for socially disadvantaged agricultural producers and rural business owners.

Menu
Options:

Funding

Funding Opportunities for Infrastructure

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 provides funding for agriculture producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. Contact your local State Energy Coordinator for assistance. Federal Register. Funding includes $250 million provided by the Inflation Reduction Act. Grants 3/31/2023 and Loan Guarantees are accepted year-round

Community Connect Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funding to construct broadband networks in rural areas that do not currently have broadband service. Application Deadline: 6/20/2023

Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations Program supports projects that improve the resilience, reliability, safety, availability and environmental performance of energy systems in rural or remote areas with populations of no more than 10,000. Funding Opportunity Announcement. Concept papers: 4/14/2023. Full application: 6/28/2023. Additional ERA option: Energizing Rural Communities Prize Application Deadline: 5/24/2023

Electric Infrastructure Loan & Loan Guarantee Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funds to finance the construction of electric distribution, transmission, and generation facilities, including system improvements and replacement required to furnish and improve electric service in rural areas, energy conservation programs and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems. Check with a General Field Representative to determine whether the proposed service area qualifies. Application Deadline: Open

Buses and Bus Facilities Program
U.S. Department of Transportation
DOT’ Federal Transit Administration grants to assist in the financing of buses and bus facilities capital projects, including replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing or leasing buses or related equipment, and rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing or leasing bus-related facilities. Application Deadline: 4/13/2023

Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development

USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development supports zero-interest loans and grants for current and former eligible Rural Utilities Service borrowers who then use the funds to help local businesses finance projects that create/retain jobs or support community facility projects. Stakeholder Announcement. Federal Register. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office by 3/31/23 and 6/30/23

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development loans and grants support Microenterprise Development Organization to establish revolving loan funds. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office by 3/31/23 and 6/30/23

Intermediary Relending Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funds to local lenders or “intermediaries” that re-lend to businesses to improve economic conditions and create new opportunities in rural communities. Stakeholder Announcement. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office by 3/31/23 and 6/30/23

Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Program
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA program to transform overburdened and underserved communities into healthy, thriving communities capable of addressing the environmental and public health challenges they have historically faced, as well as current and future challenges. Application Deadline: 4/14/2023

The National Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Workforce Strategy
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture aims to strengthen the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce through a five-year National WIC Workforce Strategy administered as a Cooperative Agreement. Application Deadline: 4/17/2023

RBDG - Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation Systems
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to provide rural communities with training and technical assistance to improve passenger transportation services and facilities. Contact your nearest USDA office for more information. Application Deadline: 4/19/2023

Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grant assistance to create and augment high-wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, support industry clusters and maximize the use of local productive assets in eligible low-income rural areas. Application Deadline: 4/20/2023

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
NEA, in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council and To Be Done Studio, funds for technical assistance to support Rural communities with placemaking. Request for Applications. Press release. Application Deadline: 4/21/2023

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides grants to help beginning farmers and ranchers enter into or improve successes in farming, ranching and forest land management. Application Deadline: 4/27/2023

FY 2023 Equity in Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service opportunity to expand conservation assistance to historically underserved producers and underserved communities. Application Deadline: 4/27/2023

Regional Food System Partnerships Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service program designed to support public-private partnerships that plan and develop relationships between local and regional producers, processors, intermediaries and institutional markets or institutional food service operations through local and regional producers and local and regional food systems. Application Deadline: 5/2/2023

Local Food Promotion Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service program supporting intermediary organizations with the development, coordination and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises to help increase access to agricultural products. Priority to communities located in low income/low food access census tracts. Application Deadline: 5/2/2023

Farmers Market Promotion Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service grants for projects that assist in the development, coordination, and expansion of domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community‐supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, and other direct producer‐to‐consumer market opportunities. Application Deadline: 5/2/2023

Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA program supporting the design of a new pass-through program to provide grant funds via subawards to community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible subrecipient groups representing underserved and disadvantaged communities. Application Deadline: 5/31/2023

Funding Opportunities for Tribal Communities

Historic Preservation Fund - Tribal Heritage Grants
Department of the Interior (DOI)
DOI National Park Service program focuses on protecting oral histories, plant and animal species important in tradition, sacred and historic places and enabling the establishment of tribal historic preservation offices. Application Deadline: 3/29/2023

Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS)
Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families Native Americans program focused on community-driven projects designed to grow local economies. Application Deadline: 3/31/20233

AmeriCorps Seniors Native Nations and Indigenous Elders Senior Demonstration Program
AmeriCorps program funding that engages adults ages 55 and older in Service in underserved indigenous and native communities. Application Deadline: 4/5/2023

USDA Tribal Scholars Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Office of Tribal Relations program offering full tuition, fees, books, a housing stipend, and workforce training to students pursuing degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. Memorandum of Agreement between USDA & Tribal Colleges and Universities. Application Deadline: 4/10/2023

Planning and Developing Infrastructure to Promote the Mental Health of Children, Youth, and Families in American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) Communities
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
HHS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration support to plan and design a family-driven, community-based, culturally and linguistically competent system of care to address the mental health and wellness needs. Application Deadline: 5/5/2023

Clean Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands-2023
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE Office of Indian Energy new funding to support tribal communities expand clean energy deployment, lower energy costs, and strengthen energy security. FOA press release. Application Deadline: 5/16/2023

Resources and Publications

USDA Rural Development Build America, Buy America (BABAA) Customer Guide This guide is designed to help people determine if their project is subject to BABAA and explain how to document compliance. USDA RD’s implementation waiver for BABAA expired Feb. 3, 2023. All non-Federal organizations receiving USDA RD financial assistance for infrastructure projects are now required to exclusively use iron, steel, manufactured products and construction materials manufactured in the United States. The Build America, Buy America Act was enacted on Nov. 15, 2021, as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Full Stakeholder Announcement.

RRDC: Findings from National Listening Sessions on Rural Community, Economic, and Workforce Development The Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs) released this initiative to support the critical investments needed to build community capacity and improve quality of life in rural America. Executive Summary, Full Report, or Topical and Regional Reports.

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Funding for USDA Rural Development IRA represents the largest single investment in rural electrification since the passage of the Rural Electrification Act in 1936. Sections 22001 through 22005 of IRA provide new loan and grant products and unprecedented incentives to expand clean energy, transform rural power production, create jobs and spur economic growth to be offered by USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service and Rural Business and Cooperative Service. Current Events, Recorded Webinars and Funding Updates will be posted on this website!

Linkages Between Rural Community Capitals and Healthcare Provision: A Survey of Small Rural Towns in Three U.S. Regions This study examines community-level factors affecting the recruitment and retention of rural healthcare professionals in 150 small towns in 9 States.

National Listening Sessions on Rural Community, Economic & Workforce The Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs) released findings from a comprehensive initiative aimed at identifying the critical investments needed to build community capacity and improve quality of life in rural America. Get the executive summary, full report or topical and regional reports here.

Looking Across Sectors at Strategies for Supporting Rural Youth and Families Tool-Kit Georgetown University published piece offering tools to support youth and families and tackle racial and ethnic disparities in rural areas.

Updated Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) State Fact Sheets Check out your state fact sheet for detailed information about announced BIL funding and projects in each state, along with anticipated funding over the next 5 years. Find Funding Opportunities: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

USDA RD Featured Success Stories

Entrepreneurs and RD: a Match Meant to Bee Mark and Linda Graf have a crew of over 400,000 bees in over 100 hives working for them near Emerson, Nebraska. When space opened next door to their home to open a shop, the Grafs took hold of the opportunity, and The Buzz opened its doors. Then, they applied for a Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant to add solar panels to the roof of their shop. REAP provides loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.

Building Small Rural Businesses via Value Added Fable Farms, a wine company in Washington, felt the strain during COVID-19 in 2020. Finding supplies for the business and getting customers to visit the winery for tastings became a challenge. USDA RD’s Value-Added Producer Grant helped them to fund brand awareness and create opportunities for collaboration to improve sales.