Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities 04/06/2021

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

Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities 03/16/2021

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 Bio-based 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 bio-based 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

Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development

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. Online 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. Online Application Deadline: March 22, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 29, 2021

SAMHSA Rural Emergency Services Training
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is making this program available to help recruit and train emergency medical services personnel in rural areas. Application Deadline: March 30, 2021

Rural Business Development Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers this competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. Application Deadline: As determined by the State Office or through March 31, 2021

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development grant and loan/grant opportunities for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. Application Deadline for Loan and Grant Combinations: March 31, 2021 | Application Deadline for Loan Guarantees: Ongoing

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 and technical assistance projects that address the needs of 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

Rural Healthcare Connect Fund Program Fund
Universal Service Administrative Company
This program provides a 65 percent discount on eligible broadband connectivity expenses for eligible rural health care providers that may apply as an individual health care provider or as a consortium. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021

Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration offers program funding for telehealth networks to improve access to health care using telehealth technologies in rural and frontier communities. Application Deadline: April 2, 2021

Advanced Manufacturing Project
U.S. Department of Commerce
The Minority Business Development Agency supports innovative projects rendering technical and management assistance to minority business enterprises designed to defray all or part of the costs of pilot or demonstration projects designed to overcome challenges of minority businesses and generate increased financing and contract opportunities to create and retain jobs. Application Deadline: April 8, 2021

AARP Community Challenge
AARP
This opportunity provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Applications are accepted for projects to improve public spaces, housing, transportation, civic engagement, coronavirus recovery, diversity and inclusion, and more. Application Deadline: April 14, 2021

The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Institute of Food and Agriculture program offers funding to support and evaluate projects intended to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by providing incentives and demonstrate and evaluate the improvement of dietary health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, reduce food insecurity and health care usage. Application Deadline: April 15, 2021

Business and Industry (B&I) CARES Act Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Recorded webinars for lenders, businesses and producers. Application Deadline: Sept. 15, 2021, or until funds are expended.

Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities 03/16/2021

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 Bio-based 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 bio-based 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

Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development

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. Online 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. Online Application Deadline: March 22, 2021 on Grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: March 29, 2021

SAMHSA Rural Emergency Services Training
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is making this program available to help recruit and train emergency medical services personnel in rural areas. Application Deadline: March 30, 2021

Rural Business Development Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers this competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. Application Deadline: As determined by the State Office or through March 31, 2021

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development grant and loan/grant opportunities for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. Application Deadline for Loan and Grant Combinations: March 31, 2021 | Application Deadline for Loan Guarantees: Ongoing

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 and technical assistance projects that address the needs of 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

Rural Healthcare Connect Fund Program Fund
Universal Service Administrative Company
This program provides a 65 percent discount on eligible broadband connectivity expenses for eligible rural health care providers that may apply as an individual health care provider or as a consortium. Application Deadline: April 1, 2021

Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration offers program funding for telehealth networks to improve access to health care using telehealth technologies in rural and frontier communities. Application Deadline: April 2, 2021

Advanced Manufacturing Project
U.S. Department of Commerce
The Minority Business Development Agency supports innovative projects rendering technical and management assistance to minority business enterprises designed to defray all or part of the costs of pilot or demonstration projects designed to overcome challenges of minority businesses and generate increased financing and contract opportunities to create and retain jobs. Application Deadline: April 8, 2021

AARP Community Challenge
AARP
This opportunity provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Applications are accepted for projects to improve public spaces, housing, transportation, civic engagement, coronavirus recovery, diversity and inclusion, and more. Application Deadline: April 14, 2021

The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Institute of Food and Agriculture program offers funding to support and evaluate projects intended to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by providing incentives and demonstrate and evaluate the improvement of dietary health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, reduce food insecurity and health care usage. Application Deadline: April 15, 2021

Business and Industry (B&I) CARES Act Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Recorded webinars for lenders, businesses and producers. Application Deadline: Sept. 15, 2021, or until funds are expended.

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