Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) 
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers this versatile program to support business opportunities or business enterprise projects in eligible rural areas. Uses may include establishing business support centers, financing job training or leadership development programs, the repair or modernization of buildings, creating feasibility studies, the purchase equipment to lease to small or emerging businesses, and much more. Specific requirements apply. Contact your local office for assistance. Application Deadline: 2/28/2024

Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers this program to help qualified, private nonprofits provide technical assistance and training to identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste problems, help applicants prepare applications for water and waste disposal loans/grants, and help associations improve the operation and maintenance of water and waste facilities in eligible rural areas. Application Deadline: 12/31/2023

USDA Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program
U.S. Forest Service (FS)
FS offers a unique program for applicants to acquire and conserve forests that provide public access and recreational opportunities, protect vital water supplies, protect wildlife habitats, serve as demonstration sites for private forest landowners, and provide economic benefits from timber and non-timber products. Application Deadline: 1/12/2024

Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program
U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE)
DOE provides this program to support viable projects that will: (1) improve electric transmission by increasing funding and advancing interconnection processes for faster buildout of energy projects; (2) create comprehensive solutions that link grid communications systems and operations to increase resilience and reduce power outages and threats; and (3) deploy advanced technologies, such as distributed energy resources and battery systems, to provide essential grid services. Concept Paper: Required by 1/12/2024

Partnerships for Local Agriculture & Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentives, led by the Chef Ann Foundation, will support regional efforts to expand scratch-cooked meal programs, increase equity, foster a resilient supply chain, and create scalable and sustainable change for school districts across the country. These grants will increase opportunities for regional small- and mid-scale producers, aggregators, and processors to become part of the K-12 school food market. Application Deadline: 1/22/2024

Supporting Community Agriculture and Local Education Systems (Project SCALES)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA’s Healthy Meals Incentives, led by the Center for School and Community Partnerships, will fund projects that will increase the procurement of locally sourced foods by developing innovative partnerships between schools, producers, growers, and processors. Application Deadline: 1/26/2024

YouthBuild
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
DOE’s Employment and Training Administration offers this community-based pre-apprenticeship program to provide job training and educational services for youth ages 16-24 who left school without a secondary diploma and face barriers to employment. Participants learn vocational skills in construction, as well as in other in-demand industries that include healthcare, information technology, and hospitality. Application Deadline: 2/1/2024

Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA offers grants to provide training and technical assistance for rural or small public water systems, onsite/decentralized wastewater systems, and private well owners. Application Deadline: 2/2/2024

Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grants to promote and strengthen the ability of Hispanic-Serving Institutions to carry out higher education programs that attract, retain, and graduate outstanding students capable of enhancing the nation's food, agriculture, natural resources, and scientific workforce. Application Deadline: 2/6/2024

USDA 1890 National Scholars Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement offers this program to provide educational and career opportunities for applicants seeking bachelor's degrees from an 1890 Land Grant University. Application Deadline: 3/1/2024

Forest Corps
AmeriCorps NCCC and United States Forest Service will engage young adults this summer in wildland fire prevention, reforestation, and other natural and cultural resource management projects. Members will receive a compensation package equivalent to $15 an hour, including lodging, transportation, clothing, a living allowance, health benefit, and more. Application Deadline: Member 3/31/2024 | Team Leader 2/29/2024