Rural Community Development Initiative | USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2022

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2022

The Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) is a discretionary grant program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Housing Service, designed to strengthen rural communities by funding intermediaries that can deliver hands-on financial and technical assistance. Rather than paying directly for construction or a single local project, this opportunity focuses on building the long-term capacity of local organizations so they are better equipped to plan, finance, manage, and carry out projects that improve rural quality of life. The funded work centers on three broad areas: housing, community facilities, and community and economic development.

Under the RCDI model, the applicant is an intermediary organization (the grantee) that runs a structured program to support other entities, referred to as recipients. The intermediary uses grant funds to provide recipients with technical assistance and training, and may also provide financial assistance as part of the capacity-building effort. The goal is to help recipients become stronger and more capable organizations so they can successfully develop and implement projects that benefit their local communities. Those communities and residents who ultimately gain from the improved local programs and services are considered the beneficiaries. In practical terms, the intermediary might help a local nonprofit, tribal organization, or local government improve governance, financial management, project planning, grant management, partnership development, or other organizational skills tied to delivering housing initiatives, improving community facilities, or advancing economic development efforts.

Eligible applicants are broad and include many types of public, private, and nonprofit entities, including tribal intermediaries. Examples listed in the opportunity include state, county, and city or township governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (including those with or without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education); and certain for-profit entities, including small businesses. The key is that the applicant must function as an intermediary capable of providing the required financial and technical assistance program to recipients.

Awards are relatively modest but intended to be catalytic. The minimum grant amount per intermediary is $50,000 and the maximum (award ceiling) is $250,000, with an anticipated 30 awards for the cycle described. A central requirement is match: the intermediary must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the RCDI grant amount, meaning a 1:1 match at minimum. This match requirement effectively doubles the resources available for capacity-building activities and signals that the intermediary has financial commitment and support to carry out the program.

The specific posting referenced is titled "Rural Community Development Initiative" with the funding opportunity number USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2022 and CFDA number 10.446. It was created on February 8, 2022, and had an original closing date of April 19, 2022. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a technical assistance and training grant aimed at strengthening the organizations that serve rural areas, so those organizations can more effectively deliver housing-related work, improve community facilities, and support broader community and economic development outcomes over time.

• The Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Service in the agriculture, community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Community Development Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.446.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 08, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 19, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2022

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