Innovation Matters: Funding Opportunities, Publications, Events and Learning

USDA Rural Development sent this bulletin at 02/28/2020 04:47 PM EST

Bi-weekly list of funding and learning opportunities in rural America.

Spotlight Opportunity

ReConnect Pilot Program
USDA's Broadband ReConnect Program furnishes loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. Application Deadline: March 16, 2020

USDA is hosting webinars to help providers with their applications. To see an updated list of dates and locations, visit www.usda.gov/reconnect/events.

In This Issue:

Funding Opportunities
   Rural Infrastructure
   Economic Development
   Tribal-specific
Publications
Event Opportunities

Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for grants to help increase access to education, training and health care resources in rural communities. Application Guide. Application Deadline: April 10, 2020

Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant
USDA Rural Development is accepting Fiscal Year 2020 applications for grants to help rural communities expand their capacity to access financial resources for economic development. Electronic Application Deadline: April 30, 2020 via grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: May 5, 2020

Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant: Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act
USDA is making $7.5 million in grants available through the Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program to help rural communities continue their recovery from the devastating effects of hurricanes, fires, tornadoes, floods and other natural disasters. Electronic Application Deadline: April 30, 2020 via grants.gov | Paper Application Deadline: May 5, 2020

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
USDA Rural Development offers funding to support agricultural producers and rural small businesses to reduce energy costs and consumption with by purchasing and installing renewable energy systems and making energy efficiency improvements in their operations. Application Deadlines: Grants - March 31, 2020 | Loan Guarantees - Ongoing

Rural Healthcare Connect Fund
Universal Service Administrative Company provides assistance to healthcare providers for eligible expenses related to broadband connectivity at a flat discounted rate of 65 percent. Application Deadline: April 30, 2020

Economic Development

Agriculture Innovation Demonstration Center Grants
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for grants to help establish and operate Agricultural Innovation Centers that will provide technical assistance to help rural businesses market value-added agricultural products. Application Deadline: March 20, 2020

Build to Scale (B2S)
U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship manages a portfolio of grant competitions that further technology-based economic development initiatives that accelerate high quality job growth, create more economic opportunities, and support the future of the next generation of industry leading companies. 2020 Concept Proposal Template. Application Deadline: March 24, 2020

Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for grants to support technical assistance, training, and other activities to help develop and expand small and emerging private rural businesses. Specific requirements apply. Application Deadline: As determined by the state office or by March 31, 2020

Rural Business Development Grant Program - Transportation Systems
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for grants to improve rural transportation systems for intermediaries seeking to provide rural communities with training and technical assistance to improve transportation services and facilities. Application Deadline: May 14, 2020

Strategic Economic and Community Development
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications to support projects that support regional economic and community development planning. Funding is authorized through a Farm Bill provision for applications submitted through Community Facilities Loans, Grants and Loan Guarantees, Water and Waste Disposal Program Loans, Grants and Loan Guarantees, Business & Industry Program Loan Guarantees and Rural Business Development Grants.

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to provide microloans for microenterprise startups and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund and Provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Tribal-Specific

Circles of Care
Health and Human Services provides funds to tribal communities with tools and resources to plan and design a holistic, community-based, coordinated system of care to support mental health and wellness for children, youth and families. Application Deadline: March 9, 2020

Community Policing Development (CPD) Microgrants Program
U.S. Department of Justice offers this program to develop the capacity of law enforcement to implement community policing strategies by providing funding to local, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies. Application Deadline: March 11, 2020

FDPIR Food Distribution Program Nutrition Education (FDPNE)
USDA Food and Nutrition Service offers funding to provide nutrition education for participants of the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, resulting in healthier food choices and a better understanding of healthy food preparation methods. Application Deadline: March 30, 2020

National Tribal Broadband Grant
The Bureau of Indian Affairs grant for tribes to support consultants to perform feasibility studies for deployment or expansion of high-speed internet transmitted, variously, through digital subscriber line, cable modem, fiber, wireless, satellite and broadband over power lines. Application Deadline: May 8, 2020

Publications

USDA and EPA Announce Continued Commitment to Support Rural Water Systems
USDA announced a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will help rural water systems face the challenges of aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, increasing costs, limited management capacity and declining rate bases. Through this MOA, USDA and EPA will conduct joint activities to help rural water systems continue to provide access to safe drinking water.

USA Opportunity Zones
U.S. Economic Development Administration provides this new web-based tool to assist more than 390 EDA-designated Economic Development Districts (EDDs) across the nation, as well as local economic and community developers and investors, target private investment to economically-distressed areas where private investment may be eligible for capital gain tax incentives under the Opportunity Zones initiative.

Rural Voices: Hope After Disaster: Rural Resilience and Recovery
The Housing Assistance Council provides perspectives on disaster recovery contributed by entities ranging from local housing organizations to national lenders and offers resources for affected families, lessons learned and policy solutions.

Low-income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory provide this tool to help states, communities and other stakeholders create better energy strategies and programs by improving their understanding of low-income housing and energy characteristics.

Event Opportunities

Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grant Program Webinar
March 3 | Virtual
This webinar will inform participants about the major eligibility and regulatory requirements of the program and will provide detailed guidance on how to submit a successful grant application.

Department of Energy's LEAD Tool Enhanced Features Webinar
March 4 | Virtual
The Low-income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has been enhanced with new features and capabilities. DOE has made updates based on feedback from stakeholders about ways to increase the functionality of the tool.

Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) Webinar
March 12 | Virtual
Learn how to apply to receive SECD funding for rural projects that support regional economic and community development planning.

The Council of Development Finance Agencies Federal Policy Conference
April 14-15 | Washington, DC
This conference will feature development finance experts and practitioners from key federal agencies, congressional offices, and policy organizations and will feature an opportunity for attendees to network.

Newsletters, websites and emails from which we gather this information include:

USDA Rural Development’s full Catalog of Programs
Grants.gov
Foundation Center
The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Pew Research Center
Philanthropy News Digest
Rural LISC e-newsletter
National Association of Development Organizations

USDA Rural Development Innovation Center

Email: rd.innovation@usda.gov | Webpage: usda.gov/rdinnovation

www.rd.usda.gov

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