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Funding Opportunities Supporting Community and Economic Development
Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Program U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Rural Development provides loan guarantees up to $250 million to assist in the development, construction, and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies. These technologies are: advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products. Application deadline: Open
Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Rural Development provides loan guarantees to commercial lenders for loans to eligible rural businesses. Application deadline: Accepted from lenders year-round.
Rural Business Investment Program U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Rural Development provides a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC) license to newly formed developmental capital organizations to help meet the equity capital investment needs in rural communities. Application deadline: Accepted year-round
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
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: 9/30/2026
Funding Opportunities for Infrastructure
Powering Affordable Reliable Technology Program U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Rural Development supports affordable energy growth across America by providing loans for projects that generate or store electricity from a renewable energy resource. Part of the loan may also qualify for loan forgiveness. Letters of interest due: 10/9/2026 |
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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
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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
Timber Production and Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP) U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Rural Development provides financial support to qualified lenders whose loan applicants want to establish, reopen, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood processing facility that process ecosystem restoration byproducts from USDA Forest Service National Forest System lands. Application deadline: Accepted until funds are expended.
Water & Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Rural Development helps private lenders provide affordable financing to qualified borrowers to improve access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems in rural areas. Application Deadline: Open
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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
High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HEEHR) Program U.S. Department of Energy DOE provides up to $218.5 million in grants for energy efficiency upgrades for Tribal homes. All federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native corporations are eligible to receive formula awards from the program. For more information: Resources. Questions may be directed to tribalrebates@nlr.gov Application deadline:12/11/2026
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Resources |
USDA Applauds Confirmation of Glen Smith U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins applauds the Senate confirmation of Glen R. Smith of Atlantic, Iowa, as U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development. This reaffirms the Trump Administration’s commitment to rural America and the farmers, small towns, and rural communities.
Multi-Family Housing End of Year of Fiscal Year Reminders Rural Housing Service (RHS) is motivated to support applicants’ calendar year-end 2026 transactions. To ensure a smooth and timely closing process, please submit all required documentation—including executed conditional commitments, letters of conditions, third-party reports, organizational documents, and construction documents—by Friday, October 2, 2026.RHS is committed to helping applicants achieve their goals and will prioritize critical, time-sensitive transactions. Clear communication of key deadlines and closing dates will help RHS serve applicants even better. Please note that changes to transactions or entity structures may affect the timeline. If applicants cannot meet the October 2 deadline, the agency will gladly coordinate a closing date with applicants after January 1, 2027. Additional support from Multifamily Housing is available to applicants at MFH.ProgramSupport@usda.gov.
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
DOE Energy Efficiency Measures on Tribal Facilities | Sep. 10, 2026 The webinar will explore how Tribal communities are integrating energy efficiency measures (EEMs) into new and existing buildings to achieve cost and energy savings. Hear directly from two Tribes that have successfully implemented EEMs across multiple facilities, gaining insights from their experiences and lessons learned. This webinar will cover various types of EEMs, aiding in the evaluation of their potential suitability for your Tribe's facilities.
A Dream Becomes Home in Arecibo
Thanks to the support of USDA Rural Development Puerto Rico and the 502 Direct Loan program, Mrs. Perez now enjoys the stability, pride, and peace of mind that comes with homeownership.
For years, Mrs. Perez has called the beautiful town of Arecibo home. As the proud owner of Patriarca, a beloved artisanal shop in the community, she has always poured her heart into serving her neighbors. Yet despite her hard work and dedication, she continued to live in a rented house, holding onto a long-standing dream of one day owning a home she could truly call her own.
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Events / Learning |
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 September 1-3, 2026 | HUD's National Tribal Housing Summit
The Summit will provide a forum for training, exchanging ideas, and developing best practices for models that implement and sustain effective affordable housing programs under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA). Register Now
September 9, 2026 | Advancing Rural & Regional Opportunity Through Federal Partnerships
Join Us In Person! Ready to explore how federal partnerships can boost Northern Nevada regional and rural opportunities? This event is a collaboration forum designed to connect communities with federal programs, resources and strategic partnerships that support long-term economic growth and development. Co-hosted by HUD, SBA, and USDA! Register Now
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 September 9-10, 2026 | Montana Rural Impact Forum
Federal programs, partnerships, and pathways for thriving communities of all sizes. Connect face-to-face with federal partners for insight, guidance, and clear pathways to bring your local initiatives to life. Register Now
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