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Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities July 19, 2022

Funding Opportunities Supporting Rural e-Connectivity

Telecommunications Programs
USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is committed to ensuring that rural areas have access to affordable and reliable telecommunications services. General Field Representatives (GFRs) serve as the local information conduit for the borrowers and headquarters staff. RUS programs include:   

  • ReConnect Loan and Grant Program: Funds for construction, improvement or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. Recorded Webinar materials (Round 4) now available. Application Window: Opening Soon. Prepare now!
  • Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees: Financing for the construction, maintenance, improvement and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas. Application Deadline: Open
  • Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants: Helps rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. Application Window: Closed/Projected Winter Opening. Prepare early!
  • Community Connect Grants: Provides, on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis, broadband service that fosters economic growth and delivers enhanced educational, health care and public safety benefits. Application Window: Closed/Projected Spring Opening. Prepare early!

Community Grant Program
Foundation for Rural Services 
This funding supports business and community development, education and telecommunications to sustain and enhance the quality of life in rural America. Application Deadline: 8/31/2022

Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program
U.S. Department of Commerce 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) program to expand middle mile broadband infrastructure and reduce the cost of connecting unserved and underserved areas. Application Deadline: 9/30/2022

Digital Equity Act Programs
U.S. Department of Commerce 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) offers programs that promote digital inclusion and advance equity for all to ensure all communities have affordable access and can use the internet to improve their lives. Application Deadlines: Various. Plan now!

Capital Projects Fund
U.S. Department of Treasury
This fund offers payments to eligible governments to carry out critical capital projects that directly enable work, education, and health monitoring, including remote options, in response to the public health emergency. Application Deadline: Various

Affordable Connectivity Program
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
This FCC program helps low-income households pay for broadband service and internet connected devices. Application Deadline: Open

Virtual Living Room
The Foundation for Rural Service
This grant combines rural technology, VA resources and local support to improve healthcare access for veterans in rural areas. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development

SPOTLIGHT: Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers placemaking funding to provide technical assistance and planning to communities to enhance capacity for high-speed internet access; preserve cultural and historic structures; and support development in transportation, housing and recreational spacesStakeholder Announcement. Federal Register. Toolkit. Application Deadline: 8/15/2022

Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program for intermediaries to use funding to establish a revolving loan fund to finance a variety of activities related to meat and poultry processing. Application Deadline: 7/25/2022

Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD program for public housing agencies, governments, tribal entities and nonprofits that support the development of comprehensive plans to revitalize severely distressed public housing and/or HUD-assisted housing and the surrounding neighborhood. Application Deadline: 7/28/2022

Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture

This program helps qualified nonprofits and tribes create a revolving loan fund to increase access to clean, reliable water and septic systems for households in eligible rural areas. Application Deadline: 7/31/2022

Brownfields Job Training Grants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EDA)
EDA offers funding to deliver training programs that recruit, train, and retain a local, skilled workforce by prioritizing unemployed and under-employed residents to obtain the skills and credentials needed for pathways into full-time employment in the environmental field. Application Deadline: 8/2/2022

Economic Recovery Corps and Equity Impact Investments
U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)
EDA is seeking an organization/coalition to build, launch and operate the Economic Recovery Corps program. Additionally, the Equity Impact Investments program seeks to build a coalition of organizations to enhance economic development engagement to better serve underserved populations. Application Deadlines: 8/5/2022

Underrepresented Community Grants
National Park Service (NPS)
NPS’s Historic Preservation Fund offers this grant program which supports the survey, inventory, and designation of historic properties that are associated with communities currently underrepresented in the National Register of Historic Places and among National Historic Landmarks. Application Deadline: 8/10/2022

EPA Training/Technical Assistance for Rural Wastewater Treatment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA provides training and technical assistance for rural, small, and tribal municipalities, publicly owned wastewater treatment works, and decentralized wastewater treatment systems for the prevention, reduction, and elimination of pollution. Application Deadline: 8/22/2022

CDFI Equitable Recovery Program
The U.S. Department of the Treasury
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund to 1) expand lending, grant making and investment activities and 2) to build organizational capacity and acquire technology, staff and other tools necessary to accomplish the activities. Application Deadline: 8/23/2022

Funding Opportunities June 14, 2022

 

Funding Opportunities

USDA Supports Homeownership and Rental Assistance 

Single Family Housing Programs
USDA Rural Development (RD) works with individuals, lenders and community partners to open the door to homeownership for rural Americans. 

Multifamily Housing Programs
Multifamily Housing assists rural property owners through loans, loan guarantees, and grants that enable owners to develop and rehabilitate properties for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals and families as well as domestic farm laborers.

Programs for Individuals and Lenders: All are OPEN for applications!

For Non-Profits, Municipalities, and Federally Recognized Tribes

RD is hosting events across the nation to showcase affordable housing programs for lenders, community partners, families and individuals. Contact your Rural Development State Office to learn more about our USDA homeownership programs!

Rural Infrastructure Opportunities

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

Off-Farm MFH Labor Housing Direct Loans and Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers low interest loans and need-based grants to develop affordable housing primarily for domestic farm laborers. All RD Multifamily Housing Programs and Contacts. Letter of Intent: 7/15/2022

NTIA Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) program to expand middle mile infrastructure and reduce the cost of connecting unserved and underserved areas. Application Deadline: 7/30/2022

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. Application Deadline: Open

Emergency Rural Health Care Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Track One: Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted

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

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Loan Fund Program
Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project Inc.
Community development loans for the development and/or construction of large-scale community projects. Geographic coverage: North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and South Carolina. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Community and Economic Development Opportunities

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

U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Energy 
Program to reduce energy costs for low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes, while ensuring their health and safety. Application Deadline: Open

HUD Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program Community Selection
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD will select at least eight rural communities as part of the agency’s Continuum of Care program for ending youth homelessness. Application Deadline: 6/28/2022

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program which provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations to help microenterprises startup/grow through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund and provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs. Funding Announcement. Application Deadline: 6/30/2022

NEA Grants for Arts Projects
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
Through project-based funding, this program supports public engagement with art for projects covering the creation of art, learning in the arts and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life. Application Deadline: 7/7/2022

Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities: A Grant Initiative for the Appalachian and Delta Regions
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
Employment and Training Administration offers funding to create economic mobility, address historic inequities and produce high-quality employment for workers who reside in the Appalachian and Delta regions. Application Deadline: 7/8/2022

Resident Opportunity and Self Sufficiency Service Coordinator Program
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD grants to fund service coordinators to assist residents of public and Indian housing in making progress towards economic self-sufficiency, including the provision of job training, employment, adult education, housing, and health resources. Application Deadline: 7/18/2022

Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program Grant
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development grant program for intermediaries to use funding to establish revolving loan funds to finance a variety of activities related to meat and poultry processing. Rural Development press release. Program Website. Funding Deadline: 7/25/2022.

Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD program for public housing agencies, governments, tribal entities and nonprofits that support the development of comprehensive plans to revitalize severely distressed public housing and/or HUD-assisted housing and the surrounding neighborhood. Application Deadline: 7/28/2022

OUR TOWN
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
NEA’s creative placemaking grant program offers project-based funding to support activities that integrate arts, culture and design into local efforts that strengthen communities. Application Deadline: 8/22/2022

Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities May 19, 2022

 

Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure Opportunities

Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant Opportunity
U.S. Department of Transportation
Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program offers a combined Notice of Funding Opportunity on funding for major infrastructure projects to make transportation more sustainable and expand transportation options in rural America and underserved communities. Application Deadline: 5/23/2022

Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grants – Round 2
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service funding supporting improvements to expand existing facilities, modernizing equipment and food safety requirements. Press Release. Application Deadline: 5/24/2022

Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure & No or Low Emissions Programs
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Transit Administration offers two programs to support infrastructure and eliminate/reduce bus emissions. Application Deadlines: 5/31/2022

NTIA Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration  program that builds high-speed internet infrastructure where needed, supports job training, provides the equipment needed, and drives partnerships to get everyone online. Notice of Funding Opportunity. Letters of Intent Required: 7/18/2022

NTIA Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration program to expand middle mile infrastructure and reduce the cost of connecting unserved and underserved areas. Application Timelines: Opens 6/21/2022 | Closes 7/30/2022

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. Application Deadline: Open

Community and Economic Development Opportunities

Minority Colleges and Universities Grant Program: Entrepreneurship Programs
U.S. Department of Commerce
Minority Business Development Agency funding to develop and implement entrepreneurship programs at Minority Serving Institutions, which include Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Alaska Native Serving Institutions. Application Deadline: 5/25/2022

NIFA’s American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture supports the equitable participation in the full range of USDA programs and services among underserved farmers, ranchers, forest land owners and operators through the organizational delivery of technical assistance projects and establishment of technical assistance networks. Application Deadline: 6/1/2022 

MBDA Business Center Grant Competition
U.S. Department of Commerce
Minority Business Development Agency funding to operate MBDA Business Centers in six new locations: Arkansas, Indiana, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin to provide high quality, technical assistance to minority business enterprises. Application Deadline: 6/2/2022

Access to Capital: Innovative Finance
U.S. Department of Commerce
Minority Business Development Agency program to market solutions to the barriers of access to capital that acknowledge lack of traditional collateral/assets as an impediment for minority business enterprises. The projects can utilize technical assistance models, pilot innovative solutions, leverage technology, advance research and data, or provide education to non-traditional lenders. Application Deadline: 6/5/2022

Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program improves the economic condition of rural areas by helping individuals and businesses start, expand or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through Cooperative Development Centers. Federal Register. Application Deadline: 6/6/2022

Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development technical assistance funds to support socially disadvantaged groups in rural areas with feasibility studies, business plans, strategic planning, and leadership training. Application Deadline: 6/13/2022

EDA’s 2022 Build to Scale Program
U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration’s Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship is soliciting applications under two funding tiers, the Venture Challenge and Capital Challenge, to strengthen regional innovation initiatives and invest in local business startups. Application Deadline: 6/13/2022

Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Grant Program
U.S. Department of Labor 
Employment and Training Administration and Women’s Bureau funding to target industries where they are underrepresented such as manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity and healthcare to support community-based organizations in their efforts to recruit, train, and retain. Application Deadline: 6/20/2022

NTIA Digital Equity Act Programs
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration offers three programs that promote digital inclusion and advance equity for all to ensure all communities have affordable access and can use the internet to improve their lives. Planning Application or Letter of Intent Due: 7/12/2022

Delta Health Care Services Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grant funds for the development of healthcare services, health education programs, healthcare job training programs, or the development and expansion of public health-related facilities in the Delta Region. Application Deadline: 7/12/2022

Rural Energy for America Program Energy Audits & Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to assist rural small businesses and agricultural producers by conducting and promoting energy audits and providing renewable energy development. Application Deadline: 1/31/2023

Innovation Matter, April 27, 2022

 

Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure Opportunities

Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants
National Endowment for the Humanities 
National Endowment for the Humanities' Office of Challenge Grants offers both Capital Project and Digital Infrastructure funding supporting the design, purchase, construction, restoration or renovation of facilities for humanities activities. Application Deadline: 5/17/2022

Environmental Small Grants Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA is working to improve the environment and public health conditions of tribal governments, low-income communities, and communities of color through the advancement of racial equity and environmental justice. Application Deadline: 5/20/2022

Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects
U.S. Department of Transportation
This program is competitive funding for projects of national or regional significance, including infrastructure in rural areas and to support access to broadband or projects that affect public health. Application Deadline: 5/23/2022

States Economic Development Assistance Program 
Delta Regional Authority
This funding within the eight states served by the federal Delta Regional Authority may apply for grants supporting job creation and infrastructure at the community level. Program Manual. Application Deadline: 6/5/2022

Community and Economic Development Opportunities

USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Marketing Service funds will develop, coordinate and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products by developing, coordinating, expanding and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, online sales or other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. Application Deadline: 5/16/2022

USDA Regional Food System Partnerships
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Marketing Service program to support partnerships that connect public and private resources to plan and develop local or regional food systems. Application Deadline: 5/16/2022

Community Economic Development Focus on Energy Communities
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
HHS’s Administration for Children and Families offers support for Community Economic Development work, to Community Development Corporations, for projects in energy communities. Application Deadline: 5/19/2022

Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development grants to provide technical assistance and training to help grantees identify and plan for community facility needs in their area. Federal Register. Application Deadline: 5/23/2022 on Grants.gov | Paper applications to the State Office by 5/26/2022

Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service program to support the production and  marketing of climate-smart commodities via a set of pilot projects lasting one to five years. Press Release. Proposals Due: 5/27/2022

Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development technical assistance funds to support socially disadvantaged groups in rural areas with feasibility studies, business plans, strategic planning, and leadership training. Application Deadline: 6/13/2022

EDA’s 2022 Build to Scale Program
U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration’s Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship is soliciting applications under two funding tiers, the Venture Challenge and Capital Challenge, to strengthen regional innovation initiatives and invest in local business startups. Press Release. Application Deadline: 6/13/2022

  

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