Funding Wizard

The Community Connect Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide service at or above the Broadband Grant Speed to all premises in rural, economically-challenged communities where broadband service does not exist. The deployment of broadband services on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis stimulates economic development and provides enhanced educational and health care opportunities in rural areas. RUS will give priority to rural areas that demonstrate the greatest need for broadband services, based on the criteria contained herein. The regulation for the Community Connect Grant Program can be found at 7 CFR part 1739. All applicants should carefully review and prepare their applications according to instructions in the FY 2023 Community Connect Grant Program Application Guide (Application Guide) and program resources. This Application Guide can be found at https://www.rd.usda.gov/community-connect. Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the applicant’s own risk. Applications will be submitted through the Community Connect Portal application system available on the program web site. The Agency encourages applications that will help improve life in rural America. See information on the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity found at www.usda.gov/ruralprosperity. Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships and innovation. Key strategies include: Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America Developing the Rural Economy Harnessing Technological Innovation Supporting a Rural Workforce Improving Quality of Life

Authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa, the DLT Program provides financial assistance to enable and improve distance learning and telemedicine services in rural areas. DLT grant funds support the use of telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video equipment, and related advanced technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents. These grants are intended to increase rural access to education, training, and health care resources that are otherwise unavailable or limited in scope. This opportunity is being opened pursuant to The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 which identified seven (7) entities that are eligible to receive funding through the Rural Utilities Service’s (RUS) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program (DLT) as part of Community Project Funding (CPF). This opportunity is only for entities identified, by name, in the Act. If you are not one of these entities, you are not eligible for this opportunity, and should not apply in this window. The seven entities have been individually invited to apply and are the only applications which will be considered under this opportunity. An additional window(s) is(are) anticipated in the future that will be open to all eligible entities. The regulation for the DLT Program can be found at 7 CFR part1734. All invited applicants should carefully review and prepare theirapplications according to instructions in the FY 2022 DLT Grant ProgramCommunity Project Funding Application Guide (Application Guide) and programresources. This Application Guide can be found on this entry on grants.gov oryou may also request a copy by emailing dltinfo@usda.gov. Expenses incurred indeveloping applications will be at the applicant’s own risk.

Authorized by 7 U.S.C. 950aaa, the DLT Program provides financial assistance to enable and improve distance learning and telemedicine services in rural areas. DLT grant funds support the use of telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video equipment, and related advanced technologies by students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents. These grants are intended to increase rural access to education, training, and health care resources that are otherwise unavailable or limited in scope.The regulation for the DLT Program can be found at 7 CFR part 1734. All applicants should carefully review and prepare their applications according to instructions in the FY 2023 DLT Grant Program Application Guide (Application Guide) and program resources. This Application Guide will be made available here and on the program website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/distance-learning-telemedicin…. Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the applicant’s own risk.

This program helps qualified non-profits create a revolving loan fund (RLF) that can provided financing for the extension and improvement of water and waste disposal systems in rural areas.

The Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC) provides planning support, technical assistance, and training to communities to foster placemaking activities in rural communities. Funds can help enhance capacity for broadband access, preserve cultural and historic structures, and support the development of transportation, housing, and recreational spaces. Applicants must demonstrate existing and proposed partnerships with public, private, philanthropic, Tribal and community partners to provide assistance in implementing the placemaking plan. This funding announcement supports the delivery of technical assistance and training in visioning, planning, and assisting communities to implement placemaking efforts in rural communities under the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge.

The DWS Grant Program has been established to help individuals with low to moderate incomes finance the costs of household water wells and individually owned decentralized wastewater systems that they own or will own. Grant funds must be used to establish and maintain a revolving fund to provide loans and sub-grants to eligible individuals for individually owned water well systems and/or individually owned wastewater systems. Individual households may use the loan and/or sub-grant funds to construct, refurbish, rehabilitate, or replace decentralized water systems up to the point of entry to a home. Point of entry for the well system is the junction where water enters into a home water delivery system after being pumped from a well. For septic systems, in lie of the point of entry, the point of exit is substituted. The point of exit is the junction where wastewater exits out of the home wastewater collection system into the septic tank and drain field. Grant funds may be used to pay administrative expenses associated with providing DWS loans and/or sub-grants.

The Rural eConnectivity Program (ReConnect) Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. In facilitating the expansion of broadband services and infrastructure, the program will fuel long-term economic development and opportunities in rural America. The ReConnect Program is authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. 115-141), which directs the program to be conducted under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq ). The policies and procedures for the ReConnect Program are codified in a final rule, 7 CFR part 1740, that was published in the Federal Register on February 26, 2021 (86 FR 11603). The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to announce that it is accepting applications for fiscal year 2022 (FY 2022) for the ReConnect Program. In addition, the FOA defines requirements that are determined at the time a funding announcement is published, as outlined in the regulation. As part of this announcement, the Agency is also informing potential applicants and other interested parties about its intention to seek information on a topic that will help inform future funding announcements. Beginning on November 24, 2021, applications can be submitted through the RUS on-line application portal until 11:59 a.m. Eastern on February 22, 2022. Applications will not be accepted after February 22, 2022 until a new application opportunity has been opened with the publication of an additional FOA in the Federal Register . The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities: Assisting Rural communities recover economically from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly disadvantaged communities. Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development programs and benefits from Rural Development funded projects. Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities. All applicants should carefully review and prepare their applications according to instructions in the FY 2022 ReConnect Program Application Guide and program resources. This Application Guide and program resources can be found at https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/forms-and-resources. Applications must be submitted through the RUS on-line application system available on the program web site at https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/. Please submit any ReConnect questions or comments using our Contact Us Form.

The primary objective of the RISE program is to support jobs accelerator partnerships to improve the ability of distressed rural and energy communities to create high wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, and help rural communities identify and maximize local assets. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. The minimum award per grant is $500,000 and the maximum award amount per grant is $2,000,000. Grant funds may be used to pay for up to 80 percent of eligible project costs. Grant funds may be used to pay for costs directly related to the purchase or construction of an innovation center located in a rural area; costs directly related to operations of an innovation center including purchase of equipment, office supplies, and administrative costs including salaries directly related to the project; costs directly associated with support programs to be carried out at or in direct partnership with job accelerators; reasonable and customary travel expenses directly related to job accelerators and at rates in compliance with 2 CFR 200.474; utilities, operating expenses of the innovation center and job accelerator programs and associated programs; and administrative costs of the grantee not exceeding 10% of the grant amount for the duration of the project.

The purpose of RMAP is to support the development and ongoing success of rural Microentrepreneurs and Microenterprises, each as defined in 7 CFR 4280.302. The regulation can be accessed online at https://www.ecfr.gov. To accomplish this purpose, RMAP provides direct loans and grants to Microenterprise DevelopmentOrganizations (MDO). Grant funds are used by the MDO to provide technical assistance and entrepreneurship training to rural individuals and businesses.

Funds may be used to:Evaluate current landfill conditions to determine threats to water resources; provide technical assistance and/or training to enhance operator skills in the operation and maintenance of active landfills; provide technical assistance and/or training to help communities reduce the solid waste stream; provide technical assistance and/or training for operators of landfills which are closed or will be closed in the near future with the development and implementation of closure plans, future land use plans, safety and maintenance planning, and closure scheduling within permit requirements. Grant funds may not be used to: recruit applications for the Agency’s water and waste loan and/or any loan and/or grant program; duplicate current services, or replace or substitute support normally provided by other means, such as those performed by an association’s consultant in developing a project, including feasibility,design, and cost estimates; fund political or lobbying activities; pay for capital assets; purchase real estate or vehicles, improve or renovate office space, or repair and maintain privately owned property; pay the costs for construction, improvement, rehabilitation, modification or operation and maintenance of water, wastewater, and solid waste disposal facilities and pay costs incurred prior to effective date of grants made under 7 CFR 1775.