Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities December 15, 2021

Funding Opportunities for Rural Infrastructure

Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantee Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development helps private lenders provide affordable financing to qualified borrowers to improve access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems in rural areas. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Broadband ReConnect Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers loans, grants, and loan-grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in areas of rural America that currently do not have sufficient access to broadband. Application Deadline: Feb. 22, 2022

Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Products Manufacturing Assistance Program 
U.S. Department of Agriculture 
USDA Rural Development program that provides loan guarantees to assist in the development, construction and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies for advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products. Application Deadline: April 1, 2022 

Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees
U.S. Department of Agriculture 
USDA Rural Development  loans and loan guarantees for the construction, maintenance, improvement, and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Funding Opportunities for
Community and Economic Development

Biofuel Producer Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers this NEW program to make payments to U.S. based producers of advanced, cellulosic, or conventional biofuel, biomass-based diesel or renewable fuel to offset unexpected market losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific requirements apply. Federal Register. Read the full stakeholder announcement here. Application Deadline: Feb. 11, 2022, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
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. RMAP FY22 Funding Announcement. Application Deadline: To the RD State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time): Dec. 31, 2021, March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022

Economic Mobility Corps
AmeriCorps
The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund teams up with AmeriCorps to place service members in CDFIs to enhance their capacity to provide financial literacy, planning, budgeting and other counseling activities. Application Deadline: Jan. 5, 2022

Farm to School Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Food and Nutrition Service offers this grant to plan, establish, and/or sustain a “Farm to School” program that improves access to local foods and nutrition/agriculture resources in schools. Farm to School Grant Applicant Resources Page. Planning Tool-kit. Application Deadline: Jan. 10, 2022

Digital Humanities Advancement Grants
Institute of Museum and Library Services and The National Endowment for the Humanities
Joint agency grant to support innovative, experimental and/or computationally challenging digital projects at different stages of their lifecycles, from early start-up phases through implementation and sustainability. Application Deadline: January 14, 2022

YouthBuild Grants
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
DOL’s Employment and Training Administration offers funding to organizations to support apprenticeship services for education, occupational skills training and employment services for at-risk youth while performing meaningful work for their communities. Application Deadline: Jan. 21, 2022

Multi-Family Housing Non-Profit Transfer Technical Assistance Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grants to qualified nonprofits and public housing authorities to provide technical assistance to qualified borrowers and applicants to facilitate the acquisition of properties. Application Deadline: Feb. 8, 2022

Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities November 24, 2021

Funding Opportunities for Rural Infrastructure

Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program
The U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration investment in grants to expand broadband internet access in minority communities. Application Deadline: Dec. 1, 2021

Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Products Manufacturing Assistance Program 
U.S. Department of Agriculture 
USDA Rural Development program that provides loan guarantees to assist in the development, construction and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies for advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products. Application Deadline: April 1, 2022 

EDA American Rescue Plan Funding Programs
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) offers grants to support a wide array of programs supporting community-led economic development to accelerate economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and building local economies benefiting underserved communities, including Indigenous communities and rural areas. EDA American Rescue Plan Programs Overview and Resources. Application Deadlines: Please check the website 

Emergency Rural Health Care Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Emergency Rural Health Care Grants are designed to help broaden access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines, rural health care services, and food assistance through food banks and food distribution facilities. Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency. Application Deadline: Until all funds are exhausted

Funding Opportunities for
Community and Economic Development

Brownfield Cleanup, Brownfield Revolving Loan, and Brownfield Assessment Grants
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Grants to carry out activities at specific brownfield sites, resulting in better community environmental health. Application Deadline: Dec. 1, 2021

Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Water Quality and Enable Small Public Water Systems to Provide Safe Drinking Water
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA grants for nonprofit organizations to provide training and technical assistance for small public water systems, onsite/decentralized wastewater systems, and private well owners located in urban, rural and tribal communities. Application Deadline: Dec. 3, 2021

Healthy Food Financing Initiative Targeted Small Grants Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is partnering with the Reinvestment Fund, the National Fund Manager, to provide funding to qualified grantees, include grocery stores and food distributors, that are working to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas. Letter of Interest is Required by: Dec. 7, 2021

Save America's Treasures Collection Grants
U.S. Department of the Interior
The National Park Service offers these funds to provide preservation and/or conservation assistance to nationally significant historic properties and collections. Deadline: Dec. 14, 2021

Communities Local Energy Action Program (LEAP)
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
DOE offer this Pilot funding that aims to facilitate sustained community-wide economic and environmental benefits primarily through DOE’s clean energy deployment work. This opportunity is specifically open to low-income, energy-burdened communities that are also experiencing either direct environmental justice impacts, or direct economic impacts from a shift away from historical reliance on fossil fuels. Registration Deadline: Dec. 15, 2021

Assistance to Firefighters Grants
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency offers funding for fire departments and EMS organizations or fire academies and equipment, training, personnel wellness programs, capital funding, and collaboration/regional communication efforts. Application Deadline: Dec. 17, 2021

Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture offers this grant to support the planning and implementation of food projects designed to meet the needs of low-income. Application Deadline: Dec. 20, 2021

USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture offers two types of grant streams in this program: Community Food Projects (CFP) and Planning Projects (PP). CFP supports the development of projects with a one-time infusion of federal dollars to make such projects self-sustaining. PP supports planning for an improvement of community food security. Deadline: Dec. 20, 2021

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
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. RMAP FY22 Funding Announcement. Application Deadline: To the RD State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time): Dec. 31, 2021, March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022

Farm to School Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Food and Nutrition Service offers this grant to plan, establish, and/or sustain a “Farm to School” program that improves access to local foods and nutrition/agriculture resources in schools. Farm to School Grant Applicant Resources Page. Planning Tool-kit. Application Deadline: Jan. 10, 2022

New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program
U.S. Department of Treasury
The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund offers tax incentives for investments in business and economic development projects in distressed rural areas. Application Deadline: Jan. 13, 2022

Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Programs
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Forest Service provides funding to support the Wood Innovations Grant Program and the 2022 Community Wood Grant Program to develop and expand the use of wood products and strengthen emerging wood energy markets that support sustainable forest management, particularly in areas of high wildfire risk. Application Deadlines: Jan. 19, 2022

Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities 07/15/2021

Funding Opportunities for Rural Infrastructure

Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is seeking applications for grants from qualified organizations to create loans to help rural homeowners finance household water systems. Application Deadline: July 19, 2021

Housing Preservation Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funds to assist low/very low-income homeowners in repairing/rehabilitating homes. Electronic Pre-application Deadline: July 19, 2021 

Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This program accelerates investment in critical water infrastructure through innovative and flexible financing that can support a wide range of projects in both large and small communities. Letter of Interest Deadline: July 23, 2021

NTIA-Broadband Infrastructure Program
U.S. Department of Commerce
Funding to build broadband infrastructure. Application Deadline: Aug. 17, 2021

Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP)
Department of Housing and Urban Development 
Eligible national and regional organizations may apply for grants to purchase home sites and develop or improve the infrastructure needed to set the stage for sweat equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs. Application Deadline: Aug. 23, 2021

Funding Opportunities for
Community and Economic Development

Delta Health Care Services Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making funds available to support activities such as health education programs, health care services, job training in health care fields, and developing or expanding public health facilities. Application Deadline: July 19, 2021

Community Navigator Pilot Program
Small Business Administration
SBA launched this $100 million competitive grant program to strengthen outreach to businesses in underserved communities enacted through the American Rescue Plan. Extended Application Deadline: July 23, 2021

Veterans Housing Rehabilitation and Modification Pilot Program
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Grants to rehabilitate and modify the primary residence of veterans who are low-income and living with disabilities, with a focus on helping them regain and/or maintain their independence to alleviate critical health, life and safety issues. Application Deadline: July 30, 2021

Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development accepting applications for eligible entities to provide planning, training and technical assistance to rural communities to foster placemaking activities. Application Deadline: July 26, 2021

Rural Innovation Stronger Economy
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development unveiled a new grant program to help rural communities create good-paying jobs and support new business opportunities in high-growth fields. Application Deadline: Aug. 2, 2021

Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups through cooperatives and Cooperative Development Centers. Application Deadline: Aug. 9, 2021

Rural Cooperative Development Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for grants to help start, expand or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses in rural America.
Application Deadline: Aug. 10, 2021

2021 Building Partner Capacity and Promoting Resiliency and Equity under Clean Water Act Wetlands, Nonpoint Source, Monitoring, Assessment and Listing Programs
Environmental Protection Agency
Grants to support training and related activities to build the capacity of agricultural partners, state, territorial and tribal officials and nongovernmental stakeholders in activities to support the goals of the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 303(d) Program, the Nonpoint Source (CWA Section 319) Program, the Wetlands Program, the CWA 401 Program, and the Water Quality Monitoring Program. Application Deadline: Aug. 10, 2021

NEA | American Rescue Plan Grants to Organizations #1, FY 2021 / NEA | American Rescue Plan Grants to Organizations #2, FY 2021
National Endowment for the Arts
Funds are intended to support day-to-day business expenses/operating costs, and not specific programmatic activities. Application Deadline: Aug. 12, 2021

Our Town
National Endowment for the Arts
Creative placemaking grants program that support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes. Application Deadline via Grants.gov: Aug. 5, 2021; Application Deadline via NEA Portal: Aug. 17, 2021 

CAREER National Dislocated Worker Grants
Agency Employment and Training Administration
Funding to provide flexibility in response to and recovery from events that cause widespread unemployment. Application Deadline: Aug. 31, 2021

Agriculture Innovation Center Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making funds available to provide technical assistance to agricultural producers to help them develop and market value-added agricultural products using a variety of options, except joint marketing efforts. Application Deadline: Sept. 27, 2021

Minority Leaders Development Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Minority Health program to support projects that implement innovative models to improve minority health and reduce health disparities. Application Deadline: Aug. 17, 2021

Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities 06/22/2021

Resources to Support the Recreation Economy

Recreation Economy at USDA: Economic Development Resources for Rural Communities
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA’s Forest Service, Rural Development, and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture developed this resource guide for rural communities to identify resources that develop the recreation economy.

Sign Up to Receive Updates and Resources to Support the Recreation Economy
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Sign up to receive updates and resources from USDA Rural Development that can be used to support recreation economies in rural America. 

Climate-Forward Efficiency Initiative
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
This initiative will research how utilities can shift their practices to maximize greenhouse gas reductions from their portfolios.

Scenic Route Guide
Smart Growth America and Transportation for America
Smart Growth America and Transportation for America have unveiled the newly updated guide for transportation planners, public works agencies and local elected officials who want to collaborate with artists. The guide summarizes eight common ways artists contribute to transportation and infrastructure projects with an equity lens to allow for more genuine public engagement.

Delta Health Care Services Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is making funds available to support activities such as health education programs, health care services, job training in health care fields, and developing or expanding public health facilities. Application Deadline: July 19, 2021

Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development accepting applications for eligible entities to provide planning, training and technical assistance to rural communities to foster placemaking activities. Application Deadline: July 26, 2021

Funding Opportunities for Rural Infrastructure

Revolving Funds Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for grants to create revolving loan funds to build and improve water and wastewater disposal systems in rural areas. Application Deadline: July 16

Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is seeking applications for grants from qualified organizations to create loans to help rural homeowners finance household water systems. Application Deadline: July 19, 2021

Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This program accelerates investment in critical water infrastructure through innovative and flexible financing that can support a wide range of projects in both large and small communities. Letter of Interest Deadline: July 23, 2021

Broadband Infrastructure Program
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration funding to build broadband infrastructure. Specific requirements apply. Application Deadline: Aug. 17, 2021

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grant opportunities for eligible communities to prepare for or recover from an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Funding Opportunities for
Community and Economic Development

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funding that provides loans and grants to microenterprise development organizations to help them establish revolving loan programs to assist microenterprises, businesses with 10 or fewer full-time employees. Application Deadline: June 30, 2021

Intermediary Relending Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funding that provides 1 percent low-interest loans to local lenders or “intermediaries” that re-lend to businesses to improve economic conditions and create jobs in rural communities. Application Deadline: June 30, 2021

Community Navigator Pilot Program
Small Business Administration
SBA launched this $100 million competitive grant program to strengthen outreach to businesses in underserved communities enacted through the American Rescue Plan. Application Deadline: July 12, 2021

Rural Innovation Stronger Economy
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development unveiled a new grant program to help rural communities create good-paying jobs and support new business opportunities in high-growth fields. Application Deadline: Aug. 2, 2021

Rural Cooperative Development Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for grants to help start, expand or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses in rural America.
Application Deadline: Aug.10, 2021