Funding Opportunities, Resources, Events and Learning: Innovation Matters

USDA Rural Development sent this bulletin at 05/21/2026 08:45 AM EDT

Funding

Funding Opportunities Supporting
Community and Economic Development

Community Connect Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities where service does not exist. Application deadline: 6/29/2026

Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides financial assistance to enable and improve distance learning and telemedicine services in rural areas. DLT grant funds support the use of telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video equipment, and related advanced technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents. Application deadline: 6/30/2026

Rural Business Development Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funding for business and community initiatives that promote economic growth and job creation. Applications will compete in two separate categories: Business opportunity grants and Business enterprise grants. Application deadline: 6/30/2026

Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Programs
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. Application deadline: 6/30/2026

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs. Application deadline: 6/30/2026

Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Loan Guarantees
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers financial assistance to eligible service providers that will construct, improve, or expand telecommunication and broadband networks in rural areas. Application deadline: Open

Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Institute of Food and Agriculture supports quality of life in rural communities across the United States by addressing the relationship between rural prosperity and rural health and safety in the context of food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. Application deadline: 6/23/2026

Targeted Technical Assistance for Rural Hospitals Program
Health Resources & Services Administration
A federally funded initiative that offers comprehensive technical assistance to rural hospitals to address financial and operational challenges and maintain essential health services for their communities. Application Deadline: Rolling Basis

Funding Opportunities for Infrastructure

Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides loan guarantees to eligible lenders to develop essential community facilities (CF) in rural areas. Examples of community facilities include health care facilities, buildings like town halls, and public safety facilities such as fire departments. Application deadline: Open

Electric Infrastructure Loan & Loan Guarantee Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides insured loans and loan guarantees to nonprofit and cooperative associations, public bodies, and other utilities. Insured loans primarily finance the construction of electric distribution facilities in rural areas. Application deadline: Open

Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage and solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. Application deadline: Open

Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides loan guarantees to establish, reopen, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood processing facility. Application deadline: Open until funds depleted

FY25-26 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant Program
U.S. Department of Transportation
The Federal Railroad Administration funds projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail. Application deadline: 6/22/2026

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Funding Opportunities for Tribal Communities

USDA Rural Development’s Tribal Relations web page offers a calendar of events, funding opportunities, news releases, success stories, and more!

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: Open

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: Open

Unleashing Tribal Energy Development
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs is soliciting applications to advance affordable, reliable, and secure energy development of Tribal energy resources for the benefit of Tribes and their members.
Application deadline: 7/24/2026

Resources

Rural Development Rural Philanthropy Project- Explore the impact of philanthropic organizations in rural communities, with the goal of understanding how much and where philanthropic grantmaking resources are located across the country. The written report provides a foundation for understanding RD’s ongoing work developing partnerships with philanthropic organizations. The online StoryMap is a user-focused tool for exploring and interacting with the research and data at a community level.

Rural Data Gateway's Lender Lens-The Lender Lens is a series of data visualizations that enhance transparency and visibility into the USDA's Commercial Guaranteed Loan portfolio. Watch Public Webinar

USDA Income and Property Eligibility Site- This site is used to evaluate the likelihood that a potential applicant would be eligible for housing assistance. In order to be eligible for many USDA loans, household income must meet certain guidelines. Also, the home to be purchased must be located in an eligible rural area as defined by USDA

USDA Rural Development Eligibility Lookup Tool-The Rural Development Eligibility Lookup Tool enables user flexibility in determining programmatic eligibility based on their location across multiple programs simultaneously.

Enterprise's 2026 Rural Rental Housing Preservation Academy-The Academy is a series of no-cost training and peer learning sessions designed to help rural housing providers acquire and/or preserve USDA Rural Development (RD), HUD and LIHTC financed housing in their respective communities.

USDA Rural Development Success Story

She is a beekeeper, historic mead maker, business owner and more. Ayla Guild of The Hive Taproom in East Troy is supporting rural prosperity in Wisconsin.

USDA Rural Development grant helps Wisconsin agricultural entrepreneurs expand and grow

The Value-Added Producer Grant assistance is helping this producer create a higher value product from their honey,” said Wisconsin Rural Development Loan Specialist Judy Clendenning. “These types of projects allow producers to increase the revenue earned from their raw commodity.

Events / Learning

August 16-21, 2026 | National Tribal Health Conference 2026

The NIHB National Tribal Health Conference is a week-long event that serves American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes in the space of health – behavioral and public health. The conference will showcase the interconnectedness of policy, advocacy, and Indian health best practices.
Register here.

September 1-3, 2026 | Farm Progress Show 2026

The Farm Progress Show is designed for serious growers, producers and agribusinesses. As the largest, most diversified agriculture information business in North America, Farm Progress prides itself on providing a well-rounded show for farmers to connect and do business with a wide variety of exhibitors.

Save the date.

September 30- October 2, 2026 | 2026 Investing in Rural America Conference

This year’s conference will showcase innovative strategies for rural prosperity across several key areas:
-Economic development
-Small business development
-Financial inclusion
-Workforce pathways

Save the date.

October 18-22. 2026 | 83rd Annual Convention & Marketplace

This is one of the most important gatherings in Indian Country, bringing together tribal leaders, NCAI members, Native youth, and allies from across the nation to:

-Address critical issues facing Indigenous communities

-Strategize for the future

-Strengthen nation-to-nation relationships

-Amplify Indigenous voices and sovereignty

Save the date.