Funding Opportunities
Rural Infrastructure
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities & Flood Mitigation Assistance
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers funding for eligible activities to strengthen the nation’s ability to build a culture of preparedness by reducing disaster losses and protecting life and property from future damages. Application Deadlines: Jan. 29, 2021
Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC)
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Technology Transitions seeks to support the formation and development of regional clusters supporting entrepreneurs and startups by funding innovation-accelerating organizations that demonstrate the ability to advance energy and related technologies in collaboration with and with the support of state, regional and/or local entities. Application Deadline: Feb. 3, 2021
Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Forest Service invites Requests for Proposals for projects to install a thermally led community wood energy system or build an innovative wood product facility. The grants awarded under this announcement are intended to support forest health and stimulate local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood products manufacturing capacity. Application Deadline: Feb. 3, 2021
EPA Grants to Support Water Systems Rural and Small Communities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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 Energy for America Program Energy Audit & Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funding opportunity to assist rural small businesses and agricultural producers by conducting and promoting energy audits and providing renewable energy development assistance. Contact State Energy Coordinator with questions. Application Deadline: Feb. 1, 2021
Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making funding available to help agricultural producers and small rural businesses develop new products from raw agricultural products or to promote new markets for established products. Application Deadline: March 16, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 22, 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. Federal Register. 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. Federal Register. 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 (RMAP)
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. Federal Register. 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.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) re-opened January 11, 2021
U.S. Small Business Administration
This program offers new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers funding to help small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic address job retention and other expenses through March 31, 2021.
Rural Healthcare Connect Fund
Federal Communications Commission
Universal Service Administrative Company provides assistance to healthcare providers for eligible expenses related to broadband connectivity at a flat discounted rate of 65 percent. Participants can apply as a member of a consortium or a stand-alone entity. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021
Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grants to plan or implement food projects designed to meet the needs of low-income individuals and increase community self-reliance concerning food and nutrition. Application Deadline: May 4, 2021