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May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Visit USDA’s Rural Health Site for valuable resources to help
rural communities thrive! Presidential proclamation 

Funding

USDA Rural Development wants to hear from you! Better Grants Better Service (BGBS) is a Rural Development (RD) wide effort to review RD’s grant-only programs and determine how best to modernize them. Through ongoing and direct feedback, our customers have asked us to look for opportunities to improve how we deliver our programs. Customers and stakeholders are encouraged to email recommendations to SM.RD.BetterGrants@usda.gov. Currently BGBS is analyzing equipment-only grants and technical assistance grants. Please share your experience with these types of grants and any ideas for modernizing them to SM.RD.BetterGrants@usda.gov by May 31, 2024, if possible. View this short video in English or Spanish to learn more.

Funding Opportunities for Infrastructure

ReConnect Program Round 5
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
USDA Rural Development program that furnishes funding for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. *EXTENDED* Application Deadline: 5/28/2024

Community Facilities (CF) Programs
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants to develop or improve essential public services and facilities in communities across rural America. Projects include fire and rescue stations, village and town halls, health care clinics, hospitals, adult and childcare centers, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, public buildings, schools, libraries, and many other community-based initiatives.
Application Deadline: Open

CF Success Story: USDA Rural Development Iowa State Director, Theresa Greenfield, announced the completion of a hospital expansion and upgrade project for Floyd Valley Healthcare. The investment came through a $8.3 million dollar loan from USDA through the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant. “Whether our rural hometowns need EMS vehicles to help save lives or updated medical facilities, USDA Rural Development has a team of experts that can determine eligibility for funding and then help get solid financing arranged for those essential projects.”

Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grant (DLT)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers funding to help rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. Application Deadline: Prepare Now!

DLT Success Story: Nivory Gordon, the Alabama state director of USDA Rural Development, announced the award of a DLT grant to Auburn's Rural Health Initiative to install telehealth carts in 14 locations where providers see patients remotely.

Business & Industry Loan Guarantees
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program that offers loan guarantees to lenders for their loans to rural businesses. Eligible uses include business conversion, enlargement, repair, modernization, or development, purchase and development of land, buildings, and associated infrastructure, equipment, and supplies. It also covers debt refinancing when such refinancing and acquisitions that improve cash flow and creates jobs. This program is streamlined under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/onerdguarantee. Application Deadline: Open

Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers qualified nonprofits and Tribes grants to create lending opportunities for people in rural areas seeking to build, refurbish, or service water well and septic systems in their homes or on their properties. When necessary, up to 50% of the awarded funds may be used as a subgrant. Subgrants can be used to help reduce the cost burden to the homeowner. Application Deadline: 6/28/2024

Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program & Loan Guarantees
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funding supporting access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems in eligible rural areas. Application Deadline: Open 

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development grants for eligible communities to prepare for or recover from an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. Application Deadline: Open

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Loans & Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Rural Development program to provide funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Federal Register Notice. Contact your State Energy Coordinator. Application Deadline: Various

Funding Opportunities Supporting
Community and Economic Development

FY24 Fostering Access, Rights and Equity (FARE) Grant Program
Department of Labor (DOL)
DOL Women’s Bureau allows recipients to undertake projects to assist marginalized and underserved women workers who have been impacted by gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work, which includes activities that occur in the course of, linked with, or arising out of work. Application Deadline: 5/28/2024

School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
This program offers competitive grants to State educational agencies, local educational agencies (LEAs), and consortia of LEAs to increase the number of credentialed mental health services providers providing school-based mental health services to students in LEAs with demonstrated need. Application Deadline: 5/31/2024

Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
This program offers competitive grants to support and demonstrate innovative partnerships to train school-based mental health service providers for employment in schools and local educational agencies. Projects should support and demonstrate innovative partnerships to train school-based mental health service providers for employment in schools and local educational agencies. Application Deadline: 5/31/2024

Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to provide help to new and existing cooperatives to strengthen their hands-on assistance, like leadership training and strategic planning, to small business owners and agricultural producers. Stakeholder Announcement. Application Deadline: 6/3/2024

Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program designed to improve the economic condition of rural areas by assisting individuals or entities in the startup, expansion, or operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other business entities. Application Deadline: 6/3/2024 

Rural Community Innovations: Transportation Planning Grant
National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
This grant supports rural communities to develop a transportation plan that addresses accessibility and equity. Application Deadline: 6/7/2024

FY2024 Elder Justice Innovation Grants
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
HHS Administration for Community Living fund projects contributing to the improvement of the field of elder abuse prevention and intervention through programs that can be widely disseminated and contribute to the evidence-base of knowledge. Application Deadline: 6/18/2024

FY24 Youth Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
DOJ Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention offers funding to support public safety efforts through partnerships with youth justice, mental health, and substance use agencies to enhance responses to justice-involved youth. Application Deadline: June 6/18/2024

National Health Service Corps Site Application
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HHS Bureau of Health Workforce is recruiting National Health Service Corps Sites to receive recruitment and retention assistance, networking opportunities, and other benefits. Application Deadline: 6/25/2024

Know the “skinny” on GRANTS and subscribe to Innovation Matters!
Next Month’s publication will spotlight Rural Housing Resources and other great GRANT opportunities! 

Funding Opportunities for Tribal Communities

Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development helps get safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal services to low-income communities that face significant health risks. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers this program to help remote Alaskan villages provide safe, reliable drinking water and waste disposal systems for households and businesses. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Native Voices Rising Grants
The Common Counsel Foundation and Native Americans in Philanthropy collaborate to provide general operating support to strengthen native-led organizations that are improving the lives of their community members. Focus areas include but are not limited to: environmental and climate justice, health and healing, voter and civic engagement, and youth and intergenerational engagement. Application Deadline: 6/28/2024

A Cultural Approach to Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HHS’s Centers for Disease Control offers a program to reduce health disparities and increase health equity among American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Application Deadline: 6/28/2024 

Tribal Opioid Response Grants
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
HHS’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers this program to address the opioid overdose crisis by increasing access to approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder, and supporting the continuum of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services for opioid use disorder and co-occurring substance use disorders. Application Deadline: 7/1/2024 

Drive Electric Vehicles (EVs): Technical Assistance and Resources for Tribal Nations
The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation has updated its Resources and Technical Assistance for Tribal Nations page to streamline EV resources for Tribes. They offer an efficient means to identifying the most relevant EV funding opportunities and specific resources or project examples for tribal communities. Tribes may contact the Joint Office to request technical assistance with EV infrastructure, planning, and much more. Visit their site to peruse their featured resources and funding opportunities. 

Guides: USDA Tribal Producers | USDA Tribal Buffalo Partnership | USDA Tribal Colleges, Students, and Youth | DOE Tribal Nations and Native Communities Resource Guide

Resources

Mental Health Resources

2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and Federal Action Plan
This Federal 10-year “whole-of-society” approach to suicide prevention is designed to provide concrete recommendation for addressing gaps in the suicide prevention field and promote a coordinated and comprehensive approach to suicide prevention. Press Release.

Mental Health Awareness Month
Throughout the month, NAMI actively participates in this national movement, dedicated to eradicating stigma, extending support, fostering public education and advocating for policies that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Program 
This program was established to create a network of experts who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related occupations to assist farmers and ranchers in time of stress can offer a conduit to improving behavioral health awareness, literacy, and outcomes for agricultural producers, workers, and their families.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Employment, Volunteering, and Internship Opportunities 
Positions aim to serve as crisis counselors answering phones, chats, and texts, as well as managers with advanced degrees.

 Visit the New USDA Rural Health Page
or more Rural Health Resources!

More Good Things...

Together, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the U.S. Economic Development Administration updated their Stronger Together guide in English and Spanish. This unique joint resource guide offers programs and services that can be used for economic development and advance job creation. Contacts at each agency are available in the guides

Now accepting nominations for Rural Innovators
Nominations of individuals of all ages, including youth leaders, are welcome. Individuals could be engaged in either the public and private sectors, including local, state, Tribal and territory governments; non-profits; businesses; philanthropy; or academia. Nominations close June 14, 2024.

Infrastructure Grant Application Bootcamp
The United States Conference of Mayors, Local Infrastructure Hub offers a virtual bootcamp series to assist small and mid-sized cities, towns, and villages with applying for federal infrastructure funding.

 Join USDA in celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian,
and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

USDA Rural Health Care Success Stories:

New Mental and Behavioral Healthcare Facility for Turtle Mountain, North Dakota
USDA RD Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program awarded the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians $10,000,000 to support a project to build a new center for culturally based residential and outpatient treatment of substance use disorder - The Turtle Mountain Recovery Center.

Rollin' with Health: Rush Memorial Hospital's Mobile Clinic Brings Medical Care to Residents!
With the support USDA RD’s funding, this close-knit community now offers mobile service to their rural patients.

Health Care Closer to Home – It’s Good for the Heart
In Arizona, Benson Hospital credits the success of the hospital’s Telehealth Cardiac Rehabilitation Program to a $377,494 Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grant from USDA Rural Development. Telehealth services cut a 100-mile round trip to metropolitan Tucson, allowing residents to focus on what matters most – their health. 

USDA Invests 1.7 million to Expand Telehealth Services in Rural Utah
Distance Learning and Telemedicine award increases access Behavioral Health Services when USDA RD invested $1.7 million to expand services, specifically for mental and behavioral health. This funding helped purchase telehealth carts and related equipment to deliver mental health care including substance and opioid use disorder to 10 locations.

5/28 | Virtual: Rural Clean Energy Federal Funding Fairs - Additional Funding Opportunities for Clean Energy Projects. USDA Rural Development hosts a series of virtual federal funding fairs for entities interested in building clean energy that supports rural communities. 
Presenters will come from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, U.S Department of Energy's Energy Improvements for Rural and Remote Areas (ERA) Program, and U.S. Department of Treasury to talk about Elective Pay/Direct Pay benefits. Representatives from USDA will also talk more about USDA Rural Development's Rural Energy for America (REAP) program and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Electric Programs.

5/29 | Virtual: Understanding Housing as a Social Driver of Health for Rural Residents. Offered by The Rural Health Research Gateway who provides easy and timely access to research and funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.

6/17 | Virtual: ARPA-E & USDA Rural Energy Innovation Webinar.
Join this event to learn about new and exciting energy options!
Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) & USDA Rural Development’s Innovation Center combine forces to engage technology innovators, end-users, and rural stakeholders to enhance their ability to deliver innovative energy advancements. ARPA-E advances high-potential, high-impact energy technologies across a wide range of technical areas that are too early for private-sector investment.
ARPA-E funding opportunity announcements.

Recorded | Virtual: National Integrated Heat Health Information System offers webinars, workshops, and other events to support low income and rural communities stay safe, healthy, and prepared for extreme heat events.

Mental Health Awareness Month Related Learning: https://mhanational.org/mha-webinars

​Contacts/Subscription

USDA Rural Development Quick Links:

• USDA Rural Development’s full Catalog of Programs
• USDA Rural Development's NOSA/NOFAs
• USDA Rural Development’s Search All Programs
• USDA Rural Development Resource Guides
• USDA Rural Development’s Rural Data Gateway
• USDA Rural Development Blogs
• View the Prior Edition of Innovation Matters

Websites and hyperlinks provided are for reference only. USDA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, or applications.

USDA Rural Development Innovation Center

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

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