Financials & Governance

Updated October 21, 2024

Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants. US Department of Agriculture. Federal (IIJA). Project-based funding. Eligible entities rural small businesses and agricultural producers. Provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. Must be within a rural area with population of 50,000 residents or less. Combined grant and loan guarantee funding up to 75% of total eligible project costs. If you are interested in applying, contact one of the local program specialists before starting your application. They can be found on the above linked website under the “Contact” tab. Deadlines December 31, 2024; March 31, 2025.

 Updated September 24, 2024

Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Loan Guarantees. US Department of Agriculture. Federal. Project-based funding. Eligible entities state and local government, Tribes, NPOs including Cooperatives, for-profit businesses. This program provides financing for the construction, maintenance, improvement and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas.

Rural Business Investment Program. US Department of Agriculture. Federal. Startup funding. Eligible entities for-profits and subsidiaries of an entity. Provides a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC) license to newly formed developmental capital organizations to fill the need for business and development capital in rural areas. The program works with for-profit developmental capital funds.

Business and Industry Loan Guarantees. US Department of Agriculture. Federal. Loan funding. Eligible entities for-profit and nonprofit businesses, cooperatives, Tribes, public bodies, and individuals engaged or proposed to engage in a business. Loan guarantees to improve, develop, or finance business, industry, and employment and improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities.

Recreation Economy for Rural Communities 2024 Application. Environmental Protection Agency. Federal. Project-based funding. Eligible entities Funding will include a planning team will help communities bring together local residents and other stakeholders to decide on strategies and an action plan to grow the local outdoor recreation economy. The planning assistance process will take place over 8 to 12 months, with a focal point being a facilitated community workshop. At the workshop, participants will work together to identify a vision, goals, and specific actions to realize the locally set goals. Partner communities are encouraged to pursue activities that foster environmentally friendly community development and Main Street revitalization through the conservation and sustainable use of public or private forests or other natural resources. Deadline October 16

Updated August 21, 2024

Good Jobs Challenge. Economic Development Administration. Federal. Eligible entities economic development districts; Tribes; local government; higher education; nonprofits. The EDA will support regional workforce training systems in designing and implementing activities for established sectoral partnerships that place program participants in good jobs and advance industries in the federal key technology focus areas. Deadline September 27.

Affordable Connectivity Program. Federal Communications Commission. The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

Community Housing Development Organization Operating Funds. CO Division of Housing. State. DOH is requiring a Letter of Intent (LOI) in order to begin the application process. Eligible entities include affordable housing developers, public housing authorities, or community organization. Visit the link to download a “CHDO LOI template.” You can find it under “Application Forms.” The Letter of Intent must be returned to Bradley.A.Wood@state.co.us no later than Thursday, August 15. Funds are available for operating expenses only, not pre-development activities. CHDOs must have demonstrated capacity for carrying out housing projects assisted with HOME funds and intend to purchase, develop, or sponsor a HOME-eligible project within 24 months. Please include a few sentences about this HOME-eligible project in your Letter of Intent.

Updated July 18, 2024

Hometown Grants. T-Mobile. Foundation. Project-based funding. Eligible entities are local government, tribal leaders, or nonprofit community leaders. The program will fund projects to build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster local connections in small towns (with populations less than 50,000), including town squares, historic buildings, outdoor parks, ball fields, or libraries. Elected leaders, town managers or employees, or nonprofit leaders are eligible to submit project details. Deadline: Awards will be made quarterly. Applications will be open on a quarterly basis and the portal will close on the last day of each quarter and reopen for the new quarter on the first of the month.

Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund Application deadline: August 9, 2024 Grant amount: $25,000 to $150,000 (New grantees may apply for a maximum of $75,000.) https://www.rtyouthpower.org/
Description: The Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund aims to support youth and intergenerationally led organizations shaping the responsible technology movement. U.S.-based organizations can apply for work that is national or international. Groups based outside the United States can receive funding if they have an affiliation with a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) organization. Grants are available to youth and intergenerationally led organizations working in the responsible tech space on topics like artificial intelligence (AI), mental health and well-being, and climate change. Projects could focus on topics including, but not limited to, the intersection of technology and mental health; harnessing connective opportunities technology provides to support belonging and well-being; building a better (safer, fairer, and more compassionate) world online; supporting learning, discovery, and action focused on AI, mental health and well-being, or climate change; bridging the frontiers of artificial intelligence, data science, and social impact; and empowering youth leaders who are building better digital worlds.

Updated June 4, 2024

Rural Partners Network Helping rural people build prosperity through job creation, infrastructure development, and community improvement. browse funding opportunities, technical assistance, homeowners, seniors, veterans, small businesses, agriculture producers, and more. Due: Ongoing Grant Opportunities

Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant To provide zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. Due: June 30, 2024 Learn more

Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training To provide technical assistance and training with respect to essential community facilities programs. Due: July 8, 2024 Learn more

Wetland Mitigation Banking Program For the development and establishment of mitigation banks and banking opportunities solely for agricultural producers with wetlands. Due: August 2, 2024 Learn more Program Website and Webinar

Charging and Fueling Infrastructure To strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in the places people live and work – urban and rural areas alike – in addition to along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. Due: August 28, 2024 Learn more

Historic Preservation Fund - Underrepresented Communities To support surveys and nominations of historic sites associated with communities underrepresented in the National Register. Due: August 29, 2024 Learn more

Updated May 28, 2024

ReConnect Program Round 5 USDA Rural Development program that furnishes funding for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. *EXTENDED* Application Deadline: 5/28/2024

Community Facilities (CF) Programs USDA Rural Development offers direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants to develop or improve essential public services and facilities in communities across rural America. Projects include fire and rescue stations, village and town halls, health care clinics, hospitals, adult and childcare centers, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, public buildings, schools, libraries, and many other community-based initiatives.
Application Deadline: Open

Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grant (DLT) USDA Rural Development offers funding to help 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 Deadline: Prepare Now!

Rural Decentralized Water Systems Grant Program USDA Rural Development offers qualified nonprofits and Tribes grants to create lending opportunities for people in rural areas seeking to build, refurbish, or service water well and septic systems in their homes or on their properties. When necessary, up to 50% of the awarded funds may be used as a subgrant. Subgrants can be used to help reduce the cost burden to the homeowner. Application Deadline: 6/28/2024

Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program & Loan Guarantees USDA Rural Development funding supporting access to clean, reliable water and waste disposal systems in eligible rural areas. Application Deadline: Open 

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants 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: Open

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Loans & Grants USDA Rural Development program to provide funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Federal Register Notice. Contact your State Energy Coordinator. Application Deadline: Various

FY24 Fostering Access, Rights and Equity (FARE) Grant Program DOL Women’s Bureau allows recipients to undertake projects to assist marginalized and underserved women workers who have been impacted by gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work, which includes activities that occur in the course of, linked with, or arising out of work. Application Deadline: 5/28/2024

School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program This program offers competitive grants to State educational agencies, local educational agencies (LEAs), and consortia of LEAs to increase the number of credentialed mental health services providers providing school-based mental health services to students in LEAs with demonstrated need. Application Deadline: 5/31/2024

Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program This program offers competitive grants to support and demonstrate innovative partnerships to train school-based mental health service providers for employment in schools and local educational agencies. Projects should support and demonstrate innovative partnerships to train school-based mental health service providers for employment in schools and local educational agencies. Application Deadline: 5/31/2024

Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG) USDA Rural Development program to provide help to new and existing cooperatives to strengthen their hands-on assistance, like leadership training and strategic planning, to small business owners and agricultural producers. Stakeholder Announcement. Application Deadline: 6/3/2024

Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) USDA Rural Development program designed to improve the economic condition of rural areas by assisting individuals or entities in the startup, expansion, or operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other business entities. Application Deadline: 6/3/2024 

Rural Community Innovations: Transportation Planning Grant This grant supports rural communities to develop a transportation plan that addresses accessibility and equity. Application Deadline: 6/7/2024

FY2024 Elder Justice Innovation Grants HHS Administration for Community Living fund projects contributing to the improvement of the field of elder abuse prevention and intervention through programs that can be widely disseminated and contribute to the evidence-base of knowledge. Application Deadline: 6/18/2024

FY24 Youth Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program DOJ Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention offers funding to support public safety efforts through partnerships with youth justice, mental health, and substance use agencies to enhance responses to justice-involved youth. Application Deadline: June 6/18/2024

National Health Service Corps Site Application  HHS Bureau of Health Workforce is recruiting National Health Service Corps Sites to receive recruitment and retention assistance, networking opportunities, and other benefits. Application Deadline: 6/25/2024

Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program. USDA. Federal. Eligible entities include Current Rural Utilities Service, electrical or telecommunication borrower; any former RUS borrower; or any nonprofit utility that is eligible. Provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. Deadline June 30.

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program. USDA. Federal. Project-based funding. Eligible entities nonprofits, Tribes, Institutions of higher education. Offers 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. Deadline June 30.

Updated May 10, 2024

Community Economic Development Projects. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS) will solicit applications to award approximately $15.2 million in Community Economic Development (CED) discretionary award funds to Community Development Corporations (CDC) for well-planned, financially viable, and innovative projects to enhance job creation and business development for individuals with low income. CED awards will be made as part of a broader strategy to address objectives such as decreasing dependency on federal programs, chronic unemployment, and community deterioration in urban and rural areas. CED projects are expected to actively recruit individuals with low income to fill the positions created by CED-funded development activities, to assist those individuals in successfully maintaining employment, and to ensure that the businesses and jobs created remain viable for at least one year after the award project period. Due: July 17, 2024

Community Ties Giving Program. Throughout its existence, the success of Union Pacific's business has been inextricably linked to the economic and community wellbeing of cities and towns across the nation. We take pride in the role we have played in helping communities thrive and believe the impact we can have on local communities is greatest when it is authentic to our history and reflective of the diverse company we are today. As such, we have carefully aligned our Local Grants cause areas to our company's unique heritage, strengths, and assets. Due: May 31, 2024

Updated April 4, 2024

Conservation Technical Assistance: Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative. USDA. To expand the delivery of conservation technical assistance to support grazing planning and conservation practice implementation and monitoring, conferences and other education, demonstrations, producer networks, workforce training, research and outreach projects to improve agricultural resilience. Due: May 26, 2024

Revolving Fund Program. USDA. For pre-development costs associated with proposed water and wastewater projects or with existing water and wastewater systems. Due: May 1, 2024

Socially Disadvantaged Groups. USDA. To provide technical assistance for cooperative development to socially disadvantaged groups through cooperatives and cooperative development centers. Due: June 3, 2024

Market Access Program. USDA. To foster expanded exports and market diversification by encouraging the development, maintenance, and expansion of diverse commercial export markets for United States agricultural commodities and products. Due: June 14, 2024

Social and Economic Development Strategies. HHS. For community-driven projects designed to grow local economies, strengthen Native American families, including the preservation of Native American cultures, and decrease the high rate of current challenges caused by the lack of community-based businesses, and social and economic infrastructure in Native American communities. Due: May 20, 2024

Kubota Hometown Proud 2024. Charitable. Calling all non-profits! Do you have a community-based project that could use some support? From community gardens and ag education centers to all-access parks and open space preservation projects, Kubota Tractor Corporation and our network of local dealers want to help with what’s important to you and your community. Due: April 12, 2024

Updated April 2, 2024

Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Loan Guarantees. USDA. Federal. Project-based funding. Eligible entities include state and local government, Tribes, NPOs including Cooperatives, and for-profit businesses. This program provides financing for the construction, maintenance, improvement and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas.

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program. USDA. Federal. Eligible entities include Current Rural Utilities Service, electrical or telecommunication borrower; any former RUS borrower; or any nonprofit utility that is eligible. Provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. Deadlines March 31 and June 30.

Rural Business Investment Program. USDA. Federal. Eligible enLLes for-profits and subsidiaries of an entity. Provides a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC) license to newly formed developmental capital organizations to fill the need for business and development capital in rural areas. The program works with for-profit developmental capital funds. Rolling Deadlines.

Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program. USDA. Federal. Eligible entities include Current Rural Utilities Service, electrical or telecommunication borrower; any former RUS borrower; or any nonprofit utility that is eligible. Provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. Deadlines March 31 and June 30.

Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance. EDA. Federal. Project-based funding. Eligible entities State, local government, nonprofits 501c3 and not, special district governments, and Tribes. The Public Works program provides resources to meet the construction and/or infrastructure design needs of communities to enable them to become more economically competitive. Supported activities under EDA’s EAA program include construction and non-construction such as construction or upgrading of public infrastructure, sectoral partnerships for workforce training, design and engineering, technical assistance, economic recovery strategies, and capitalization or re-capitalization of Revolving Loan Funds.

Draper Richland Kaplan. Foundation. Eligible applicants nonprofits. This foundation will invest and help provide support to entrepreneurs for a three-year funding cycle to launch and expand their ventures.

Hometown Grants. T-Mobile. Foundation. Project-based funding. Eligible entities are local government, tribal leaders, or nonprfit community leaders. The program will fund projects to build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster local connections in small towns (with populations less than 50,000), including town squares, historic buildings, outdoor parks, ball fields, or libraries. Elected leaders, town managers or employees, or nonprofit leaders are eligible to submit project details. Deadline: Awards will be made quarterly. Applications will be open on a quarterly basis and the portal will close on the last day of each quarter and reopen for the new quarter on the first of the month.

Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program. USDA. Federal. Project-based funding. Eligible entities. This program provides affordable funding to develop 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. Detailed list of essential community facilities included in link.

Thriving Communities Technical Assistance. HUD. Federal. Eligible entities are those that are eligible under specific grants. Technical assistance funding. The program will help local governments ensure housing needs are considered as part of their larger infrastructure investment plans, while also supporting equitable development in disadvantaged communities. Investments to revitalize communities, ensure equitable access to resources, create economic opportunities for residents and businesses, and improve housing availability, affordability, and quality.

Thriving Children. W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Foundation. General operating and project-based funding. Eligible entities nonprofit organizations. The foundation supports in three primary areas: Thriving Children: We support a healthy start and quality learning experiences for all children. Working Families: We invest in efforts to help families obtain stable, high-quality jobs. Equitable Communities: We want all communities to be vibrant, engaged and equitable.

Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program. USDA. Federal. Project-based funding. Eligible entities, private nonprofits, Tribes. This 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. Funds may be used to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement of drinking water sourcing, treatment, storage, and distribution; sewer collection, transmission, treatment, and disposal; solid waste collection, disposal, and closure; storm water collection, transmission, and disposal.

Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans and Grants. Project-based. Eligible entities agricultural producers and small business. Guaranteed loans and grant financing to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses invest in renewable energy systems and make energy- efficiency improvements. Deadlines March 31, June 30, and September 30.

Native American Affairs: Emergency Drought for Tribes. BOR. Federal (IIJA). Eligible entities Tribes. Provide assistance to eligible Tribes that are impacted by the operation of Reclamation water projects with near-term drought relief projects; to assist eligible Tribes to develop, manage and protect their water and related resources to mitigate the adverse impacts of drought. Deadline April 11.

Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. Project-based funding. Eligible entities States, local government, Tribes. EPA has announced two competitions for CPRG implementation grants – a general competition for applications from states, municipalities, tribes, tribal consortia, and territories, and a competition only for tribes, tribal consortia, and territories. These competitions are open to entities that received planning grants to develop Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAPs) under phase 1 of the CPRG program, as well as entities that did not directly receive a planning grant that are applying for funds to implement measures included in an applicable PCAP. Eligible applicants may only apply for funding to implement measures contained in an applicable PCAP. Deadline May 1.

Upskill Prize for Solar Manufacturing. Competition-based funding. Eligible entities private for-profit or nonprofit organizations, non-federal government entities, and academic institutions. Teams must be led by either a U.S.-based PV manufacturer or a U.S.-based training organization. The American-Made Upskill Prize for the Solar Manufacturing Workforce (Upskill Prize) is a multi-million-dollar competition designed to accelerate the expansion of the U.S. solar manufacturing workforce and equip workers with the skills necessary to revitalize the domestic solar module manufacturing supply chain. This prize addresses critical workforce needs at various stages of the U.S. solar photovoltaics (PV) module supply chain. Deadline May 21.