Funding Opportunities
Innovation Matters, Educational Opportunities March 16, 2026
Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities March 16, 2026
Innovation Matters Educational Opportunities 02/23/2026
Inflation Reduction Act Funding Opportunities
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to help make clean, affordable, and reliable energy accessible to the people of rural America. Rural Utilities Service program to forgive a percentage of loans for specific renewable energy projects. Letters of Interest (Required): Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to help make clean, affordable, and reliable energy accessible to the people of rural America. Rural Utilities Service program to forgive a percentage of loans for specific renewable energy projects. Letters of Interest (Required): Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program provides funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Federal Register Notice. More Flexible Inflation Reduction Act Changes. Contact your State Energy Coordinator. Application Deadline: 6 quarterly Cycles
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to award grants to eligible entities to provide services to assist potential Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) applicants in submitting complete applications. Funding Announcement. Application Deadline: 8/15/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development HBIIP seeks to increase the availability of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel derived from U.S. agricultural products by sharing the costs to build and retrofit biofuel-related infrastructure. Federal Register. Application Deadlines: 9/30/2023; 12/31/2023; 3/31/2024; 6/30/2024 and 9/30//2024
For more USDA RD IRA information please visit our website.
Funding Opportunities supporting Infrastructure
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program supporting the development of essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial, or business undertakings. Direct Loan Applicant Guidance Book: PDF | Spanish. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers this pilot program that makes funds available to repair and rebuild homes damaged in specific areas of presidentially declared disasters. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers specific loans to eligible entities to purchase and develop housing sites for low- and moderate-income families. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Agriculture Marketing Service provides funding to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses, to support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, fair wages, and new and safe job opportunities. Application Deadline: 8/23/2023
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, offer grant funding to organizations to modify or rehabilitate eligible veterans’ primary residences. Application Deadline: 8/31/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides loan guarantees to assist in the development, construction, and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies such as advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products. Application Deadline: 10/3/2023
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD provides grants for small communities to assist in the renovation of an historic or traditional central business district, or “Main Street” area, by replacing unused, obsolete, commercial space in buildings with affordable housing units. Application Deadline: 10/12/2023
Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funding to provide wastewater technical assistance, conduct needs assessments, test wastewater options, assist with preliminary designs, develop regulatory guidance, and prepare applications for financial assistance. Federal Register. Application Deadline: 7/31/2023
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
VA grants for new organizations to assist veterans with transportation in highly rural areas. Application Deadline: 7/31/2023
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
NEA’s creative placemaking grants program supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities over the long term. Application Deadline: 8/3/2023
National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM)
The goal of this program is to enable multi-sector community teams to develop promising mobility solutions that are inspired and informed by the results of community research. Application Deadline: 8/4/2023
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
NEH program supports the development, production, and distribution of radio programs, podcasts, documentary films, and documentary film series that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. Application Deadline: 8/9/2023
U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)
DOC’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) seeks to strengthen U.S. economic and national security through place-based investments in regions with the assets, resources, capacity, and potential to become globally competitive in the technologies and industries of the future. Application Deadline: 8/15/2023
U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)
DOC’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the International Economic Development Council join together for this program to help build a nationwide network of diverse practitioners and leaders to advance new ways of doing economic development that promotes transformative change and leads to a more just, equitable, and sustainable economy. Application Deadline: 8/15/2023
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grants to 1890 Land-Grant Institutions to support projects that strengthen the research, teaching and extension capacity needed to advance fundamental sciences, including research and development to support food and agricultural sciences. Application Deadline: 8/30/2023
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grant to expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities primed for distributed solar investments. Grantees will use funds to expand existing low-income solar programs or design and deploy new programs nationwide. Application Deadline: 9/26/2023
U.S. Department of Commerce
DOC’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) program is designed to make focused investments in communities most in need of economic resources to provide options so that all communities have a path to economic prosperity. Application Deadline: 10/5/2023
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
This EPA Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund competition will provide grants to support two-to-three national clean financing institutions, enabling them to partner with the private sector to provide accessible, affordable financing for tens of thousands of clean technology projects nationwide. Application Deadline: 10/12/2023
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
This EPA Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund competition will provide grants to 2–7 hub nonprofits that will provide funding and technical assistance to specific industry networks of public, quasi-public, not-for-profit, and nonprofit community lenders, supporting the goal that every community in the country has access to the capital they need to deploy clean technology projects in their homes, small businesses, schools, and community institutions. Application Deadline: 10/12/2023
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
ARC provides support to drive large-scale, regional economic transformation through collaborative projects across Appalachia. NOSA. Concept Paper (Required): Rolling 10/2023 to 6/2024
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA Sea Grant and Climate Program Office and the Office of Coastal Management opened this funding opportunity for organizations to lead partnerships and place workers in quality jobs that enhance climate resilience in coastal states or territories. Letters of Intent: 11/30/2023 supporting the goal that every community in the country has access to the capital they need to deploy clean technology projects in their homes, small businesses, schools, and community institutions. Application Deadline: 10/12/2023
Funding and Opportunities
Innovation Matter, Funding Opportunities June 23, 2023
Funding Opportunities Supporting Housing
Looking to Buy a Home? Know a Homeowner needing help? USDA RD has 0% down and 100% financing options!
Featured USDA Housing Programs –
Programs for Individuals and Lenders:
- Single Family Housing Direct Home Loan Program provides loans directly to families and individuals so they can buy or build homes in rural America.
- Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program enables USDA to partner with private lending institutions, backing their loans to help families and individuals buy homes in rural areas. Lender Webpage. Training & Resource Library.
- Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants Program provides loans and grants to help families and individuals repair their homes to make them safer, healthier places to live.
- Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair Grants provides grants to very-low and low-income homeowners to repair homes damaged in a Calendar Year 2022 Presidentially Declared Disaster Area.
Programs For Non-Profits, Municipalities, and Federally Recognized Tribes:
- Rural Housing Site Loans for organizations purchasing and developing sites for eligible households.
- Housing Preservation Grant for organizations administering the repair and rehabilitation of eligible housing.
- Mutual Self Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants for qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction project.
- In addition to programs that boost homeownership, USDA RD offers Multifamily Housing Programs that increase access to affordable multifamily rental opportunities, such as rental assistance.
Contact your Rural Development State Office to learn more about our USDA homeowner programs!
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Loan guarantees for qualified private-sector lenders to provide financing to qualified borrowers with the intent of increasing the supply of affordable rental housing for low to moderate income individuals and families in eligible rural areas and towns. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development’s 515 MFH NP TA Grants are intended to provide technical assistance to multifamily housing borrowers and applicants to facilitate the acquisition of section 515 properties by nonprofit organizations and public housing authorities. Off-FLH TA Grants are intended to provide technical assistance to qualified section 514 loan and section 516 grant applicants to encourage the development of domestic and migrant Off-FLH projects. Federal Register. Application Deadline: 7/3/2023
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD provides grants for small communities to assist in the renovation of an historic or traditional central business district, or “Main Street” area, by replacing unused, obsolete, commercial space in buildings with affordable housing units. Application Deadline: 10/12/2023
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD loan program that provides Community Development Block Grant recipients with the ability to leverage their annual grant allocation to access low-cost, flexible financing for economic development, housing, and infrastructure projects. Application Deadline: Ongoing
Housing Assistance Council (HAC)
HAC offers short-term loans at below market interest rates to local nonprofits, for-profits and government entities that are working to develop affordable housing for low-income, rural communities. Application Deadline: Open
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Funding Opportunities
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program provides loans that may be forgiven by up to 40% of the loan amount. The maximum loan amount is $100 million. Applicants in Puerto Rico, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and Tribal communities are eligible for up to 60% loan forgiveness. Federal Register Notice. Letters of Interest (Required): Opens 6/30/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to help rural Americans transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy by reducing air and water pollution. Funding improves health outcomes and lower energy costs for people in rural communities. Federal Register Notice. Letter of Interest (Required): Opens 7/31/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program provides funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Federal Register Notice. More Flexible Inflation Reduction Act Changes. Contact your State Energy Coordinator. Application Deadline: 6 quarterly Cycles
- Demo: How to Submit USDA PACE Letters of Interest: June 29 Registration | July 13 Registration
- USDA PACE Application Webinars: July 20 Registration| August 1 Registration
- New ERA Application Webinars: August 15 Registration | August 29 Registration
For more USDA RD IRA information visit the website. Also, search additional federal IRA funding opportunities at the IWG’s online clearinghouse.
Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funds to help non-profit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities and community and economic development. Application Deadline: 6/28/2023 via Grants.gov | Paper Applications: 7/3/2023
The funding may be used to provide wastewater technical assistance, conduct needs assessments, test wastewater options, assist with preliminary designs, develop regulatory guidance, and prepare applications for financial assistance. The grant funds also may be used to construct the identified solutions. Visit the Federal Register or program webpage for more information. Application Deadline: 7/31/2023
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
NEA’s creative placemaking grants program supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities over the long term. Application Deadline: 8/3/2023
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Agriculture Marketing Service provides funding to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses, to support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, fair wages, and new and safe job opportunities. Application Deadline: 8/23/2023
Funds closing soon:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development supports zero-interest loans and grants for current and former eligible Rural Utilities Service borrowers who then use the funds to help local businesses finance projects that create/retain jobs or support community facility projects. Stakeholder Announcement. Federal Register. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office by 6/30/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development loans and grants support Microenterprise Development Organization to establish revolving loan funds. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office by 6/30/23
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funds to local lenders or “intermediaries” that re-lend to businesses to improve economic conditions and create new opportunities in rural communities. Stakeholder Announcement. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office by 6/30/23
USDA Rural Development offers covered programs reserved funding. To gain that advantage apply by the June 30th Deadline!
Funding and Opportunities
Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities May 24, 2023
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Funding Opportunities at Rural Development
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program provides loans that may be forgiven by up to 40% of the loan amount. The maximum loan amount is $100 million. Applicants in Puerto Rico, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and Tribal communities are eligible for up to 60% loan forgiveness. Federal Register Notice. Letters of Interest (Required): 6/30/2023, on a rolling basis until 9/29/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to help rural Americans transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy by reducing air and water pollution. Funding improves health outcomes and lower energy costs for people in rural communities. Federal Register Notice. Letter of Interest (Required): Due between 7/31/2023 and 8/31/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program provides funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Federal Register Notice. More Flexible Inflation Reduction Act Changes. Contact your State Energy Coordinator. Application Deadline: 6 quarterly Cycles
Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development
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
U.S. Department of Labor
DOL’s Employment and Training Administration offers workforce funding for the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border Regions. Application Deadline: 6/13/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funding to support eligible applicants to provide technical assistance and training to help grantees identify and plan for community facility needs in their area. Application Deadline: 6/15/2023 via Grants.gov | Paper Applications: 6/30/2023
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers this program to support technical assistance projects such as conducting feasibility studies, completing network designs and developing broadband financial assistance applications. Funding is also available to help organizations access federal resources, and to conduct data collection and reporting. Read the full news release. Application Deadline: 6/20/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funds to start, improve or expand rural cooperatives and other mutually owned businesses that help improve economic conditions in rural areas. Federal Register. Application Deadline: 6/26/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funds to help non-profit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities and community and economic development. Application Deadline: 6/28/2023 via Grants.gov | Paper Applications: 7/3/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development supports zero-interest loans and grants for current and former eligible Rural Utilities Service borrowers who then use the funds to help local businesses finance projects that create/retain jobs or support community facility projects. Stakeholder Announcement. Federal Register. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office by 6/30/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development loans and grants support Microenterprise Development Organization to establish revolving loan funds. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office by 6/30/23
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funds to local lenders or “intermediaries” that re-lend to businesses to improve economic conditions and create new opportunities in rural communities. Stakeholder Announcement. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office by 6/30/23
U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration (EDA) offers funding to drive regional technology and innovation-centric growth by strengthening a region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize and deploy critical technologies. Application Deadline: 8/15/2023
Funding and Opportunities
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities March 21, 2023
Funding Opportunities for Infrastructure
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funding for agriculture producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. Contact your local State Energy Coordinator for assistance. Federal Register. Funding includes $250 million provided by the Inflation Reduction Act. Grants 3/31/2023 and Loan Guarantees are accepted year-round
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations Program supports projects that improve the resilience, reliability, safety, availability and environmental performance of energy systems in rural or remote areas with populations of no more than 10,000. Funding Opportunity Announcement. Concept papers: 4/14/2023. Full application: 6/28/2023. Additional ERA option: Energizing Rural Communities Prize Application Deadline: 5/24/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funds 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, energy conservation programs and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems. Check with a General Field Representative to determine whether the proposed service area qualifies. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Transportation
DOT’ Federal Transit Administration grants to assist in the financing of buses and bus facilities capital projects, including replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing or leasing buses or related equipment, and rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing or leasing bus-related facilities. Application Deadline: 4/13/2023
Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development supports zero-interest loans and grants for current and former eligible Rural Utilities Service borrowers who then use the funds to help local businesses finance projects that create/retain jobs or support community facility projects. Stakeholder Announcement. Federal Register. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office by 3/31/23 and 6/30/23
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development loans and grants support Microenterprise Development Organization to establish revolving loan funds. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office by 3/31/23 and 6/30/23
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funds to local lenders or “intermediaries” that re-lend to businesses to improve economic conditions and create new opportunities in rural communities. Stakeholder Announcement. Application Deadline: To your RD State Office by 3/31/23 and 6/30/23
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA program to transform overburdened and underserved communities into healthy, thriving communities capable of addressing the environmental and public health challenges they have historically faced, as well as current and future challenges. Application Deadline: 4/14/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture aims to strengthen the diversity and cultural competency of the WIC workforce through a five-year National WIC Workforce Strategy administered as a Cooperative Agreement. Application Deadline: 4/17/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to provide rural communities with training and technical assistance to improve passenger transportation services and facilities. Contact your nearest USDA office for more information. Application Deadline: 4/19/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grant assistance to create and augment high-wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, support industry clusters and maximize the use of local productive assets in eligible low-income rural areas. Application Deadline: 4/20/2023
NEA, in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council and To Be Done Studio, funds for technical assistance to support Rural communities with placemaking. Request for Applications. Press release. Application Deadline: 4/21/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides grants to help beginning farmers and ranchers enter into or improve successes in farming, ranching and forest land management. Application Deadline: 4/27/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service opportunity to expand conservation assistance to historically underserved producers and underserved communities. Application Deadline: 4/27/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service program designed to support public-private partnerships that plan and develop relationships between local and regional producers, processors, intermediaries and institutional markets or institutional food service operations through local and regional producers and local and regional food systems.
Application Deadline: 5/2/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service program supporting intermediary organizations with the development, coordination and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises to help increase access to agricultural products. Priority to communities located in low income/low food access census tracts. Application Deadline: 5/2/2023
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service grants for projects that assist in the development, coordination, and expansion of domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community‐supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, and other direct producer‐to‐consumer market opportunities. Application Deadline: 5/2/2023
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA program supporting the design of a new pass-through program to provide grant funds via subawards to community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible subrecipient groups representing underserved and disadvantaged communities.
Application Deadline: 5/31/2023
Funding and Opportunities
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities February 16, 2023
Funding Opportunities for Infrastructure
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funds 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, energy conservation programs and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems. Check with a General Field Representative to determine whether the proposed service area qualifies. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
DOE Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains provide grants to small- and medium-sized manufacturers to enable them to build new or retrofit existing manufacturing and industrial facilities to produce or recycle advanced energy products in communities where coal mines or coal power plants have closed. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funding for agriculture producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. Contact your local State Energy Coordinator for assistance. Federal Register. Funding includes $250 million provided by the Inflation Reduction Act. Grants 3/31/2023 and Loan Guarantees are accepted year-round
Funding and Opportunities
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities January 19, 2023
Funding Opportunities for Infrastructure
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to support new investments in infrastructure for food aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution to increase capacity and create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain. Fact Sheet | Federal Register | FAQs. Application Deadline: Ongoing
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. Check with a General Field Representative to determine whether the proposed service area qualifies. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funding for agriculture producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. Contact your local State Energy Coordinator for assistance. Federal Register. Funding includes $250 million provided by the Inflation Reduction Act. Application Deadlines: Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance 1/31/2023, Grants 3/31/2023 and Loan Guarantees are accepted year-round
Funding and Opportunities
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities December 20, 2023
Funding Opportunities for Infrastructure
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides funding for agriculture producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. Contact your local State Energy Coordinator for assistance. Federal Register. Application Deadlines: Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance 1/31/2023, Grants 3/31/2023 and Loan Guarantees are accepted year-round
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Track One: Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted
USDA Rural Development offers financial assistance to eligible service providers that will construct, improve or expand telecommunication and broadband networks in rural areas. Application Deadline: Open
Funding and Opportunities
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities November 21, 2021
Funding Opportunities for Infrastructure
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Track One: Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted
USDA Rural Development offers financial assistance to eligible service providers that will construct, improve or expand telecommunication and broadband networks in rural areas. Application Deadline: Open
Funding and Opportunities
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities October 21, 2022
Funding Opportunities Supporting Infrastructure
USDA Rural Development
USDA Rural Development offers financial assistance to eligible service providers that will construct, improve or expand telecommunication and broadband networks in rural areas. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Track One: Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted
Funding and Opportunities
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities, September 21, 2022
Funding Opportunities Supporting Infrastructure
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Track One: Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted
Deadline: Open
Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development
Funding
Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities 08/10/2022
Funding Opportunities Supporting Rural e-Connectivity
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funding supporting access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems in eligible rural areas. Application Deadline: Ongoing
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to support new investments in infrastructure for food aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution to increase capacity and create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain. Application Deadline: Ongoing
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Track One: Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted
Funding
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities July 19, 2022
Funding Opportunities Supporting Rural e-Connectivity
USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is committed to ensuring that rural areas have access to affordable and reliable telecommunications services. General Field Representatives (GFRs) serve as the local information conduit for the borrowers and headquarters staff. RUS programs include:
- ReConnect Loan and Grant Program: Funds for construction, improvement or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. Recorded Webinar materials (Round 4) now available. Application Window: Opening Soon. Prepare now!
- Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees: Financing for the construction, maintenance, improvement and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas. Application Deadline: Open
- Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants: Helps rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. Application Window: Closed/Projected Winter Opening. Prepare early!
- Community Connect Grants: Provides, on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis, broadband service that fosters economic growth and delivers enhanced educational, health care and public safety benefits. Application Window: Closed/Projected Spring Opening. Prepare early!
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) offers programs that promote digital inclusion and advance equity for all to ensure all communities have affordable access and can use the internet to improve their lives. Application Deadlines: Various. Plan now!
U.S. Department of Treasury
This fund offers payments to eligible governments to carry out critical capital projects that directly enable work, education, and health monitoring, including remote options, in response to the public health emergency. Application Deadline: Various
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
This FCC program helps low-income households pay for broadband service and internet connected devices. Application Deadline: Open
The Foundation for Rural Service
This grant combines rural technology, VA resources and local support to improve healthcare access for veterans in rural areas. Application Deadline: Ongoing
Funding Opportunities
Funding Opportunities June 14, 2022
USDA Supports Homeownership and Rental Assistance
USDA Rural Development (RD) works with individuals, lenders and community partners to open the door to homeownership for rural Americans.
Multifamily Housing assists rural property owners through loans, loan guarantees, and grants that enable owners to develop and rehabilitate properties for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals and families as well as domestic farm laborers.
Programs for Individuals and Lenders: All are OPEN for applications!
- Single Family Housing Direct Home Loan Program provides loans directly to families and individuals so they can buy or build homes in rural America.
- Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program enables USDA to partner with private lending institutions, backing their loans to help families and individuals buy homes in rural areas. Lender Webpage. Training & Resource Library.
- Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants Program provides loans and grants to help families and individuals repair their homes to make them safer, healthier places to live.
- Multifamily Housing Rental Assistance program provides payments to owners of USDA-financed Rural Rental Housing or Farm Labor Housing projects on behalf of low-income tenants unable to pay their full rent.
For Non-Profits, Municipalities, and Federally Recognized Tribes
- Rural Housing Site Loans for organizations purchasing and developing sites for eligible households.
- Housing Preservation Grant For organizations administering the repair and rehabilitation of eligible housing. Pre-application Deadline: 7/11/2022
- Mutual Self Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants for qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction project.
RD is hosting events across the nation to showcase affordable housing programs for lenders, community partners, families and individuals. Contact your Rural Development State Office to learn more about our USDA homeownership programs!
U.S. Department of Treasury
This fund offers payments to eligible governments to carry out critical capital projects that directly enable work, education, and health monitoring, including remote options, in response to the public health emergency. Application Deadline: Various
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
This FCC program helps low-income households pay for broadband service and internet connected devices. Application Deadline: Open
The Foundation for Rural Service
This grant combines rural technology, VA resources and local support to improve healthcare access for veterans in rural areas. Application Deadline: Ongoing
Rural Infrastructure Opportunities
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Loan guarantees for qualified private-sector lenders to provide financing to qualified borrowers with the intent of increasing the supply of affordable rental housing for low to moderate income individuals and families in eligible rural areas and towns. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to support new investments in infrastructure for food aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution to increase capacity and create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Track One: Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD loan program that provides Community Development Block Grant recipients with the ability to leverage their annual grant allocation to access low-cost, flexible financing for economic development, housing, and infrastructure projects. Application Deadline: Ongoing
Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project Inc.
Community development loans for the development and/or construction of large-scale community projects. Geographic coverage: North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and South Carolina. Application Deadline: Ongoing
Community and Economic Development Opportunities
Housing Assistance Council (HAC)
HAC offers short-term loans at below market interest rates to local nonprofits, for-profits and government entities that are working to develop affordable housing for low-income, rural communities. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Energy
Program to reduce energy costs for low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes, while ensuring their health and safety. Application Deadline: Open
Funding Opportunities
Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities May 19, 2022
Rural Infrastructure Opportunities
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program to support new investments in infrastructure for food aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution to increase capacity and create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain. Application Deadline: Open
Funding Opportunities
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities April 20, 2022
USDA Clean Energy Funding Opportunities
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program that provides loan guarantees up to $250 million to assist in the development, construction and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies for: advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products. Stakeholder Forum Video: Webcast. Required Letter of Intent Required: Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program that authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture 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. Federal Register. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program provides loans to entities who provide energy efficiency services in rural areas that agree to make affordable loans to help consumers implement cost effective, energy efficiency measures. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development loans and loan guarantees to energy project developers for distributed energy projects including renewables that provide wholesale or retail electricity to existing Electric Program borrowers or to rural communities served by other utilities. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program provides funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Contact your State Energy Coordinator. Application Deadline: Guaranteed Loans-Open | Grants/Technical Assistance-Published annually in the Federal Register
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development finances the construction of electric distribution facilities plus supports financing generation, transmission and distribution facilities which include services supporting energy conservation programs and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems.
Letter of Intent: Ongoing
USDA Rural Development offers many Energy Programs and Electric Programs
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development program provides 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: Open
Click here to review all of USDA Rural Development’s Water & Environmental Programs.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offers a program to support Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Mitigation Practices with a focus on Climate-Smart Forestry and Agriculture and Drought Resilience management practices. Application Deadline: Open
Other Federal Climate-Smart Funding Opportunities
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy offers competitive grants to make energy efficiency, renewable energy, and alternative fueled vehicle upgrades and improvements at public schools. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE offers funding to support the improvement of heating and cooling of dwellings by the installation of weatherization materials for efficiency modifications. Grantees may receive formula-based allocations and can perform weatherization retrofits. YouTube. Press Release. Energy Saver Tools. Application Deadline: Open
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office provides capitalization grants to States to establish a revolving loan fund under which the State shall provide loans and grants for energy efficiency audits, upgrades, and retrofits to increase energy efficiency and improve the comfort of buildings. Application Deadline: Open until funds are expended
Funding Opportunities
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities, 3/16/2022
Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development
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: Open
Funding Opportunities
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities, February 15, 2022
Funding Opportunities for Community and Economic Development
U.S Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration (EDA) offers this flexible American Rescue Plan Act grants to support job creation/retention through construction, non-construction planning, workforce development, and entrepreneurship and recreation economy support. Application Deadline: Rolling | Contact your local Economic Development Representative
U.S Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration (EDA) is available to qualified applicants to accelerate the recovery of communities that rely on the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors. Specific requirements apply. Application Deadline: Rolling, until funding is exhausted
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Funds support research that expands the evidence needed to build a culture of health, with an explicit emphasis on advancing racial equity. Application Deadline: Open
Funding Opportunities for Rural Infrastructure
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development partners with lenders to guarantee loans to help eligible entities expand meat and poultry processing capacity and finance other food supply chain infrastructure. Fact Sheet. Federal Register. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Track One: Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted
Funding Opportunities
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities, 1/25/2022
Funding Opportunities for Rural Infrastructure
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development partners with lenders to guarantee loans to help eligible entities expand meat and poultry processing capacity and finance other food supply chain infrastructure. Fact Sheet. Federal Register. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Track One: Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development partners with lenders to guarantee loans to help eligible entities expand meat and poultry processing capacity and finance other food supply chain infrastructure. Fact Sheet. Federal Register. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development Track One: Recovery Grants provide immediate relief to address the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency. Application Deadline: Until funds are exhausted
Funding Opportunities
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities December 15, 2021
Funding Opportunities for Rural Infrastructure
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
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
Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities November 24, 2021
Funding Opportunities for Rural Infrastructure
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
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