Funding Opportunities, Resources, Events and Learning: Innovation Matters

USDA Rural Development sent this bulletin at 06/23/2023 10:25 AM EDT

USDA Celebrates National Homeownership Month

USDA offers programs that help people in rural, Tribal, and underserved areas buy, build and repair affordable homes and to pay their rent in America’s smallest towns and communities.

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Funding and Opportunities

Funding Opportunities Supporting Housing

Single Family Housing Programs (SFH): Looking to Buy a Home? Know a Homeowner needing help? USDA RD has 0% down and 100% financing options!

Featured USDA Housing Programs -

Programs for Individuals and Lenders:

Single Family Housing Direct Home Loan Program provides loans directly to families and individuals so they can buy or build homes in rural America.
Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program enables USDA to partner with private lending institutions, backing their loans to help families and individuals buy homes in rural areas. Lender Webpage. Training & Resource Library.
Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants Program provides loans and grants to help families and individuals repair their homes to make them safer, healthier places to live.
Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair Grants provides grants to very-low and low-income homeowners to repair homes damaged in a Calendar Year 2022 Presidentially Declared Disaster Area.

Programs For Non-Profits, Municipalities, and Federally Recognized Tribes:

Rural Housing Site Loans for organizations purchasing and developing sites for eligible households.
Housing Preservation Grant for organizations administering the repair and rehabilitation of eligible housing.
Mutual Self Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants for qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction project.
In addition to programs that boost homeownership, USDA RD offers Multifamily Housing Programs that increase access to affordable multifamily rental opportunities, such as rental assistance.

Contact your Rural Development State Office to learn more about our USDA homeowner programs!

Multifamily Housing (MFH) Loan Guarantees
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Loan guarantees for qualified private-sector lenders to provide financing to qualified borrowers with the intent of increasing the supply of affordable rental housing for low to moderate income individuals and families in eligible rural areas and towns. Application Deadline: Open

Consolidated Multifamily Housing Technical Assistance Grant Programs
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development’s 515 MFH NP TA Grants are intended to provide technical assistance to multifamily housing borrowers and applicants to facilitate the acquisition of section 515 properties by nonprofit organizations and public housing authorities. Off-FLH TA Grants are intended to provide technical assistance to qualified section 514 loan and section 516 grant applicants to encourage the development of domestic and migrant Off-FLH projects. Federal Register. Application Deadline: 7/3/2023

HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD provides grants for small communities to assist in the renovation of an historic or traditional central business district, or “Main Street” area, by replacing unused, obsolete, commercial space in buildings with affordable housing units. Application Deadline: 10/12/2023

Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD loan program that provides Community Development Block Grant recipients with the ability to leverage their annual grant allocation to access low-cost, flexible financing for economic development, housing, and infrastructure projects. Application Deadline: Ongoing

HAC Affordable Housing Loans for Low-Income Rural Communities
Housing Assistance Council (HAC)
HAC offers short-term loans at below market interest rates to local nonprofits, for-profits and government entities that are working to develop affordable housing for low-income, rural communities. Application Deadline: Open

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Funding Opportunities

Powering Affordable Clean Energy Program (PACE)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program provides loans that may be forgiven by up to 40% of the loan amount. The maximum loan amount is $100 million. Applicants in Puerto Rico, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and Tribal communities are eligible for up to 60% loan forgiveness. Federal Register Notice. Letters of Interest (Required): Opens 07/10/2023

Empowering Rural America Program (New ERA)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to help rural Americans transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy by reducing air and water pollution. Funding improves health outcomes and lower energy costs for people in rural communities. Federal Register Notice. Letter of Interest (Required): Opens 7/31/2023

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Loans & Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program provides funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Federal Register Notice. More Flexible Inflation Reduction Act Changes. Contact your State Energy Coordinator. Application Deadline: 6 quarterly Cycles

USDA RD Announced key IRA program updates and clarifications.

USDA RD Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Events:

Demo: How to Submit USDA PACE Letters of Interest: June 29 Registration | July 13 Registration
USDA PACE Application Webinars: July 20 Registration| August 1 Registration
New ERA Application Webinars: August 15 Registration | August 29 Registration

For more USDA RD IRA information visit the website. Also, search additional federal IRA funding opportunities at the IWG’s online clearinghouse.

Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development

Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funds to help non-profit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities and community and economic development. Application Deadline: 6/28/2023 via Grants.gov | Paper Applications: 7/3/2023

Technical Assistance and Construction for Innovative Regional Wastewater Treatment Solutions Grant Pilot Program
The funding may be used to provide wastewater technical assistance, conduct needs assessments, test wastewater options, assist with preliminary designs, develop regulatory guidance, and prepare applications for financial assistance. The grant funds also may be used to construct the identified solutions. Visit the Federal Register or program webpage for more information. Application Deadline: 7/31/2023

OUR TOWN
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
NEA’s creative placemaking grants program supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities over the long term. Application Deadline: 8/3/2023

Resilient Supply Chain Infrastructure
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Agriculture Marketing Service provides funding to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses, to support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, fair wages, and new and safe job opportunities. Application Deadline: 8/23/2023

Funds closing soon:

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 6/30/2023

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 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 6/30/23

Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) Program
USDA Rural Development offers covered programs reserved funding. To gain that advantage apply by the June 30^th Deadline!

Funding Opportunities for Tribal Communities

7/12: TRIBAL CONSULTATION AND LISTENING SESSION
USDA will host a virtual Tribal consultation and listening session for elected leaders of federally recognized Tribes or their proxies to provide feedback on a proposal to expand eligibility for Tribes under the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program. Register for the Tribal Caucus and the Tribal Consultation and Listening Session. USDA also encourages Tribal Leaders to submit written consultation remarks by email no later than Aug. 14, 2023, at aian@usda.gov.

National Indian Health Board Air Purifier Program
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB)
NIHB sponsors Tribal Nations in need of air purifiers during wildfire season. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Indian Health Service National Indian Health Outreach and Education
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
HHS’ Indian Health Service provide cooperative agreements to provide quality health care to the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) community through outreach and education efforts with a focus on improving Indian health care, promoting awareness, visibility, advocacy, training, technical assistance, and education efforts. Application Deadline: 7/10/2023

Native Community Development Financial Institution Relending Demonstration (NCDFI) Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers this program to increase homeownership opportunities by providing the loans to qualified NCDFIs that will use the funds to loan to eligible low- and very-low-income homebuyers to purchase, build, rehabilitate, improve, or relocate dwellings on Native lands and rural areas. Application Deadline: 7/17/2023

Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development, in collaboration with Agricultural Marketing Service, offer funding to expand meat and poultry processing options for underserved producers and Tribal communities. More information is available on USDA’s Indigenous Animals Grants webpage. To learn more, read the full news release. Application Deadline: 7/19/2023

Transition Tribal Colleges and Universities to Clean Energy
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
DOE’s Office of Indian Energy offers funding to support clean energy project and curriculum planning, technology support and curriculum deployment. Application Deadline: 7/27/2023

NATIVE Act Tribal Projects and Initiatives on or Adjacent to U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Managed Land
The U.S. Forest Service and AIANTA
Jointly the USFS and AIANTA implement the NATIVE act through technical assistance, grant opportunities and tribal tourism collaboration at the destination/community level. Application Deadline: 9/6/2023

Resources and Publications

A Primer on Affordable Housing Development and Key Funding Sources
This HUD Exchange resource is intended for community agencies, Continuums of Care (CoCs), service providers and other housing stakeholders who are looking to develop or assist in the development of affordable housing units in rural communities. View additional Rural Homelessness Resources.

Mapping a New Terrain: Five Principles for Equitable Rural Outdoor Recreation Economies
Aspen Institute’s Community Strategies Group offers this “Call to Action” relating the pressure of the short-term rental industry and the rural housing market as homeowners shift to visitors rather than long-term tenants. Challenges can be especially pronounced in recreation communities. Learn about possible housing solutions for recreation economies, like rental housing financed by low-income housing tax credits and community land trusts, to ensure long-term affordability for a sustainable and equitable local economy.

The Housing Assistance Council (HAC)
HAC focuses on developing the capacity of local leaders in nonprofit organizations to help their own communities. This is done by providing formal trainings, offering one-on-one technical assistance, and connecting local organizations to resources that can build their capacity and strengthen their communities.

Housing Counseling Disaster Field Guide: An Action-Oriented Tool for Disaster Response
The HUD Office of Housing Counseling, in coordination with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offer this guide to prepare housing staff for disaster deployment. Additional links to housing disaster resources for housing professionals are obtainable from this site.

Stakeholder Spotlight

USDA Rural Development Attended CMS’ Health Equity Conference at Howard University HHS’s Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) hosted this inaugural event and convened federal leaders, health providers, academia, and community-based organizations to discuss research, promising practices and innovative solutions for advancing health equity!

Housing Success Stories

Cora Suzette in front of her new home built by USDA funds

Rebuilding a Family and Community Legacy in Northampton County Her grandmother’s house couldn’t be saved, but Cora Suzette Lee's family legacy is still being preserved in a new home built on the same lot with help from USDA RD.

Habitat for Humanity supports new homeowner

Packaging Purchases AND Production to Put More Virginia Families into New Homes In Farmville, Va., Piedmont Habitat for Humanity supports new homeowner in partnership with USDA RD. The new modular houses help the nonprofit leverage grant funding to get more people into safe, affordable homes in less time than conventional construction.

Watch this Video: USDA RD Single Family Housing Self Help Program & the Helena Area Habitat for Humanity helped a single mom’s dream came true!

PRIDE: A Proclamation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, And Intersex Pride Month, 2023 | The White House

Events and Learning

6/27: USDA RUS IRA Cross-Agency Rural Clean Energy Funding Opportunity Webinar. USDA, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies will host a virtual event for rural stakeholders featuring Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding and other clean energy resources.

6/29: AIANTA and the U.S. Forest Service will host an informational webinar regarding the Request for Proposals for NATIVE Act Tribal Projects and Initiatives on or Adjacent to U.S. Forest Service Managed Lands. The webinar will include a panel of past grantees and a question and answer session specific to types of projects, timelines, the application process and implementation. See the RFP.

6/30: Housing Co-ops Discussion: Presented by the Interagency Working Group on Cooperative Development. Join via Microsoft Teams. Food Systems, Real Estate, Child Care and Equitable Co-op Ecosystem Meetings will be future webinar topics.

7/19 & 25: USDA RD Stakeholder Listening Sessions on Decoupling as a Preservation Tool for the Multifamily Housing Portfolio - Stakeholders are invited to provide input on how these changes may impact policies, program requirements and operations under the Multifamily Housing Direct Loans and Multifamily Housing Rental Assistance programs. Stakeholder Announcement. Register ahead - July 19 and July 25.

7/11: The Native CDFIs: Lending Insights, Best Practices, and Policy Considerations.

Recorded: Housing Solutions in Recreation Communities Webinar. EPA, USDA, and HUD discuss housing in gateway communities. Gateway communities lie just outside or adjacent to major tourist attractions such as national parks, wilderness areas, or nature resorts.