Funding Opportunities, March 1, 2021
Funding Opportunities for Rural Infrastructure
Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans and Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers low interest loans and need-based grants to construct off-farm housing for domestic year-round, migrant, seasonal, retired, and/or disabled domestic farm laborers. Pre-applications are required and must be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by April 1, 2021; Nov. 1, 2021; or Nov. 1, 2022
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
Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
This funding provides capital advance and project rental subsidies for the development and ongoing operation of supportive rental housing for very low-income persons, aged 62 years or older. Application Deadline: May 26, 2021
Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. Application Deadline: Ongoing
Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs
U.S. Economic Development Administration
This program funds and an array of projects including infrastructure, construction, planning, technical assistance and revolving loan fund projects. This includes CARES Act Funding. Application Deadline: Ongoing
Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development
Community Heart and Soul Seed Grant Program
Community Heart and Soul
This program provides $10,000 in startup funding for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to implement the Community Heart & Soul model. Grant funding requires a $10,000 cash match from the participating municipality or a partnering organization. Application Deadline: Rolling
Staffing For Adequate Fire And Emergency Response (SAFER)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency supports grants to fund fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations directly to help them increase capacity in their communities. Application Deadline: March 12, 2021
The SNF Foundation Small Business Growth & Recovery Grant Program
Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
The initiative by SNF and supported by National Community Reinvestment Coalition, offers small businesses funding, training and mentorship to find their footing in an acutely challenging economic landscape, focusing on those owned by people of color, women, and veterans as well as those in lower-income communities. Application Deadline: March 19, 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
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
The Gardens for Good Grant
The Nature’s Path
This program focuses on the community by supporting organic community gardens that support place based model and does “good” by providing food to a nonprofit feeding agency such as a food bank, soup kitchen, emergency pantry, shelter or school program. Application Deadline: March 24, 2021
Rural Emergency Medical Services Training Grant
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers a grant program to support in the recruitment and training of emergency medical services personnel in rural areas. Application Deadline: April 30, 2021
Food Safety Outreach Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture offers this program to build upon the national infrastructure to develop and implement food safety training, education, extension, outreach and technical assistance projects that address the needs of owners and operators of small to mid-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially-disadvantaged farmers, small processors, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021
Build to Scale program
U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration’s Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship offers funding for organizations that aid companies in developing the next generation of technologies that fuels tech-based economic development in regional economies with two separate competitions: The 2021 Venture Challenge and The 2021 Capital Challenge. Notice of Funding Opportunity. Application Deadline: April 29, 2021
