Funding Opportunities
Rural Infrastructure
EPA Grants to Support Water Systems Rural and Small Communities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Grants for technical assistance and training providers to support small drinking water and wastewater systems in rural communities to improve public health and environmental protection by helping to ensure that drinking water in these communities is safe and that wastewater is treated before it is responsibly returned to the environment. Application Deadline: Feb. 12, 2021
Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Products Manufacturing Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides loan guarantees 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: April 1, 2021
Rural Health Care Telecommunications Program
Universal Service Administrative Company
The Telecom Program provides reduced rates to rural health care providers for telecommunications and voice services for the use of telemedicine and telehealth. Eligible services are discounted at the difference in cost between urban and rural areas in your state. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021
Community and Economic Development
Rural Emergency Medical Services Training Grant
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration funding to support rural EMS agencies to recruit and train personnel and purchase equipment and supplies including naloxone. Application Deadline: Feb. 16, 2021
Booker T. Washington Fellowship Program
USDA is making the fellowship opportunity available for faculty and staff at an accredited 1890 Land-Grant University and secondary education superintendents; principals; agricultural and/or district level teachers working for 1890 Land-Grant University feeder high schools in two fellowship categories. The categories are Education and High School Education Fellowships and Science Fellowships. Application Deadline: March 1, 2021
Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization in Coal-Affected Appalachia (POWER)
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
This funding is for workforce and economic revitalization activities in communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations and coal-related supply chain industries. Priorities include strengthening the health care sector, educational attainment, substance abuse response and broadband. Letter of Intent (Required): March 5, 2021
Citizens' Institute on Rural Design
National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with The Housing Assistance Council
This funding supports downtown revitalization, heritage preservation of land or buildings, and creating public or civic spaces for local identity and active recreation offering two avenues for engagement: (1) Design Workshop communities to receive technical assistance and a stipend towards a community-engaged design workshops, and (2) Design Learning Cohort to join a national network of peers to engage with online learning. Application Deadline: March 12, 2021
Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers funding to help agricultural producers and small rural businesses develop new products from raw agricultural products or to promote new markets for established products. Electronic Application Deadline: March 16, 2021 | Paper Application Deadline: March 22, 2021
Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA is soliciting applications to assist in the development and use of innovative activities related to water workforce development and career opportunities in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector, and to expand public awareness about drinking water and wastewater utilities and to connect individuals to careers in the drinking water and wastewater utility sector. Application Deadline: March 26, 2021
Rural Community Development Initiative
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grants to qualified intermediary organizations to provide technical assistance and training to help nonprofit organizations and communities develop their capacity to undertake housing, community facility or economic development projects in rural areas. Application Deadline: March 22, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 29, 2021
Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grants to rural communities with limited staff and resources to build the capacity needed to access USDA funding to support essential community facilities. Funds may be used to help rural communities identify financial resources, improve the management of community facilities, and prepare reports, surveys and applications. Application Deadline: March 22, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 29, 2021
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 is making grant and loan/grant opportunities available for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. REAP loan guarantees are streamlined under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative. Loan & Grant Combination - March 31, 2021 | Loan Guarantees – Ongoing
Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers loans and grants to establish revolving loan funds to provide loans to rural microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs, or to provide training and technical assistance to micro entrepreneurs. Application Deadline: March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021 to the RD State Office.
Intermediary Relending Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development invites applications under this Intermediary Relending Program for fiscal year FY 2021, subject to availability of funding. Application Deadline: March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021 to the RD State Office.
Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) Funding
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for projects that support strategic regional economic and community development planning. Covered programs reserving SECD funds in Fiscal Year 2021 are: Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program; Community Facilities Loan Guaranteed Program; Water and Waste Disposal Program Loan and Grant Program; Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees; Business & Industry Loan Guarantees; Rural Business Development Grants; and Community Connect Grants. Obligation Deadlines: June 30, 2021, for all programs except the Rural Business Development Grant Program which has a July 31, 2021, obligation deadline.
