Funding Opportunities, Resources, Events and Learning: Innovation Matters

USDA Rural Development sent this bulletin at 01/19/2023 12:50 PM EST

Feeding Rural America Edition

USDA Invests in Projects to Promote Competition and Strengthen the Nation’s Meat Supply

USDA puts the needs of farmers, ranchers and consumers at the forefront to strengthen the resiliency of America’s food supply chain while promoting competition offering an approach to coordinate ways to deliver more opportunities and fairer prices for producers, to give people access to healthier foods, eliminate bottlenecks in the food supply chain and ultimately lower prices for consumers. USDA Radio.

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Funding

Funding Opportunities for Infrastructure

USDA Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to support new investments in infrastructure for food aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution to increase capacity and create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain. Fact Sheet | Federal Register | FAQs. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Electric Infrastructure Loan & Loan Guarantee Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers loans and loan guarantees 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, as well as demand side management, 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

Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. Application Deadline: Open

Photo of processing facility from Gullahs Farmers

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. Application Deadlines: Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance 1/31/2023, Grants 3/31/2023 and Loan Guarantees are accepted year-round

The Meat and Poultry Expansion Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides grants to help eligible processors expand their capacity and to encourage competition and sustainable growth to help improve supply chain resiliency. Application Deadline: Stay tuned, Prepare Now!

Funding Opportunities Supporting Domestic Agricultural Markets, including Local and Regional Food Systems

USDA FNS Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) designed this program to improve the quality of school meals by strengthening access to nutritious food products. Application Deadline: 2/1/2023

Rural Business Development Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses that have fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue. Uses include project planning/feasibility study, business incubators, land acquisition, leadership and entrepreneur training. Federal Register. Contact your state to learn about local application timelines, concept paper requirements, etc. Application Deadline: 2/28/2023

Agriculture Innovation Center (AIC) Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offer this program to establish and operate Agriculture Innovation Centers that provide technical and business development assistance to Agricultural Producers seeking to engage in developing and marketing of Value-Added Agricultural Products. Federal Register. Application Deadline: 3/6/2023

TEFAP Reach and Resiliency 2023 Round 2
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service offers this program to reach into remote, rural, Tribal, and/or low-income areas that are underserved by current program operations by providing TEFAP state agencies with another opportunity to work with currently participating organizations and/or new partner organizations, to reach underserved populations. Applications Due: 3/6/2023

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

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

Funding Opportunities for Tribal Communities

Native American Congressional Internship
Udall Foundation
This program provides American Indian and Alaska Native students with the opportunity to gain practical experience with the federal legislative process to understand first-hand the government-to-government relationship between Tribes and the federal government. Application Deadline: 1/31/2023

Indian Health Service Scholarship Programs
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HHS’ Indian Health Service offers scholarship programs supporting American Indian and Alaska Native students to obtain education experiences in health professions, pre-graduate work and undergraduate studies. Application Deadlines: 2/28/2023

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HHS’ Administration for Native Americans (ANA) offers the below funding opportunities. Application Deadlines: 3/31/2023

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!

Resources and Publications

Regional Rural Development Centers (RRDCs)
RRDCs, supported by USDA NIFA, are premier economic and community development partners offering technical assistance, resources and planning assistance in Rural America. This “one-stop-rural-shop” connects the nationwide network of Land-Grant Universities and the Cooperative Extension Service forming an innovative resource supporting sustainable development. Learn more: Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development | North Central Regional Center for Rural Development | Southern Rural Development Center | Western Rural Development Center.

CDFA: The Food Systems Finance Best Practices Guidebook
Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) offer this publication offering information on how traditional development finance tools can be used to launch and expand food and agricultural-related businesses and projects and create successful food systems finance programs at the local and regional levels.

Grassroots Guide to Federal Farm and Food Programs
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition provides an in-depth look at dozens of federal programs and policies most important to sustainable agriculture, and details how they can be accessed by farmers, ranchers and grassroots organizations nationwide.

EPA’s Local Foods, Local Places Toolkit
EPA offers this guide to support communities to revitalize local food systems. Also see their Community Self-Assessment Tool, Food System Diagramming Template and Action Planning Table.

USDA Funding: Aggregating, Processing and Distributing Food
Distribution is a key component of any local food system to remain profitable. They need an efficient, yet affordable, means to transport inventory to customers. USDA has several resources that connect producers to consumer outlets. Learn more about these Funding options and Co-op Service support.

More Food for Thought

Craving more?

Partnership in Motion: USDA Supports a Robust Recreation Economy!

Three USDA Agencies (USDA Forest Service, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and USDA Rural Development) partner together to build a stronger recreation economy.

USDA RD Success Stories: Creating a Thriving Food Economy

From Cow to Cone
USDA Rural Development provided Wright's Dairy Farm with a $250,000 Value-Added Producer Grant to help grow its innovative “Test Batch Club” membership.

Preserving Seafood Heritage by Bringing in the Next Generation
The Cape Romain Oyster Cooperative formed with the help of a Rural Cooperative Development Grant from USDA RD to successfully pass on their seafood heritage to the next generation. Cooperative Services.

Small Farmer Improvements to Package, Store and Distribute Produce
Harris Farms improved food packaging and distribution of their fresh produce. Sales increased with the support of a USDA RD Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant to help renovate their building and Rural Business Development Grants supporting the installation of equipment.

Roam Free Ranch Uses USDA To Expand Markets
Roam Free Ranch, a 16,000 acre grass-fed bison ranch in Hot Springs, Montana, utilized a USDA Rural Development Value Added Producer Grant to secure funding to help scale production capacity and expand their markets.

Events/Learning

Throughout January: Inflation Reduction Act Round Tables with USDA Rural Utilities Service. Check the Events Link on this website for your best fit. Past USDA RD IRA webinars are also available to review.

1/25 & 1/27: USDA RD Presents: Introduction to Build America, Buy America Act. On February 3, 2023, all non-Federal entities receiving USDA Rural Development federal financial assistance for infrastructure projects must comply with the Build America, Buy America Act.

Register: 1/25 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, 1/27 11:00 a.m. Eastern or 1/27 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern

2/15: Housing Solutions in Rural Recreation Communities - EPA’s Office of Community Revitalization, USDA RD, and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) address housing in gateway communities.