Funding Opportunities for Rural Infrastructure
Infrastructure & Capacity Building Challenge Grants
National Endowment for the Humanities
This funding is available to strengthen the institutional base of the humanities by enabling infrastructure development and capacity building Capital Projects support the design, purchase, construction, or renovation of facilities which includes telecommunications, and energy management. Digital Infrastructure projects support the maintenance, modernization, and sustainability of existing digital scholarly projects and platforms. Application Deadlines: May 18, 2021 and Sept. 28, 2021
Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making grants available to increase access to education, training and health care resources that are otherwise limited or unavailable. Application Deadline: June 4, 2021
Telecommunications Infrastructure Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for loans and loan guarantees to build or update broadband and telephone infrastructure in rural areas where financing can be used for the construction, improvement, or expansion of telecommunications infrastructure serving rural areas with a population of 5,000 or less. Application Deadline: Ongoing
Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development grants for eligible communities to prepare for or recover from an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. Application Deadline: Ongoing
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
Electric Infrastructure Loans & Loan Guarantee Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers loans and loan guarantees to finance the construction of electric distribution, transmission, and generation facilities, including system improvements and replacement required to furnish and improve electric service in rural areas, as well as demand side management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems. Application Deadline: Ongoing
Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development
Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Paraprofessionals
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Bureau of Health Workforce grants to develop and expand experiential training opportunities to increase the supply of students preparing to become peer support specialists and other behavioral health paraprofessionals. Application Deadline: April 12, 2021
DOL Grants for State Apprenticeship Programs
U.S. Department of Labor
This program offers funding for new or expanded Registered Apprenticeship Programs that train individuals aged 16 years and older that will adopt diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Application Deadline: April 26, 2021
Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Institute of Food and Agriculture funding for community-based outreach education and extension programs at land-grant colleges and universities that provide individuals and families based in rural areas with information on health, wellness, and prevention. Projects should utilize telehealth, telemedicine, and distance learning strategies for education and training in minority rural communities related to opioids, preventing spread of COVID-19, and/or mitigating infection and transmission of COVID-19. Application Deadline: Apr 29, 2021
Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA announced that it is making an additional $35 million available this year in the VAPG program to support agricultural producers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Extended Online Application Deadline: April 29, 2021 on Grants.gov | Extended Paper Application Deadline: May 4, 2021
Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Institute of Food and Agriculture funding to 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
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This program offers funding to improve the environment and public health conditions of low-income communities and communities of color through the advancement of racial equity and environmental justice. Application Deadline: May 7, 2021
Training and Technical Assistance for Wastewater Treatment Works for the Prevention, Reduction, and Elimination of Pollution
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This program offers funding for training and technical assistance to rural, small and Tribal publicly owned wastewater treatment works and decentralized wastewater treatment systems for the prevention, reduction and elimination of pollution. Application Deadline: May 17, 2021
Community Health Workers for COVID Response and Resilient Communities
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants for training and deployment of community health workers to build and strengthen community resilience to fight COVID-19 in geographic areas and populations that experience health disparities. Application Deadline: May 24, 2021
Rural Business Development Grants – Transportation Systems
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making grants available to improve rural transportation systems. Application Deadline: June 30, 2021
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers opportunities 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. Application Deadline for Loan Guarantees: Ongoing
Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides loans to entities that agree to make affordable loans to help consumers implement cost-effective, energy efficiency measures to lower energy bills for rural families and businesses and reduce barriers to investment in energy efficiency projects or activities. Application Deadline: Open
Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers competitive funding to utilities that will relend the funds for local economic development efforts: The funding may be used to assist with business start-up and expansion costs; business incubators; feasibility studies; advanced telecommunications and computer networks for medical, educational, and job training services; and community facilities that spur economic development. Application Deadline: Open
SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funding for financially distressed rural communities of less than 2,500 people to assist with feasibility studies, design assistance and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects. Application Deadline: Open
Water and Waste Disposal Pre-development Planning Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grants to help low-income, rural communities with the initial planning and development of applications for their Water and Waste Disposal loan/grant and loan guarantee programs. Application Deadline: Ongoing
