The Rural Placemaking Edition

Register Now: Placemaking in Small and Rural Communities Online Conference
Conference on May 23 – 24  | Registration Deadline: May 13
USDA Rural Development and the University of Kentucky’s Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky invite rural leaders across the country to attend a virtual conference showcasing placemaking strategies and featuring effective tools and funding. See the full stakeholder announcement.

Visit USDA Rural Development’s new webpage for placemaking resources at

https://www.rd.usda.gov/placemaking. 

Rural Infrastructure Opportunities

Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants
National Endowment for the Humanities 
National Endowment for the Humanities’ Office of Challenge Grants offers both Capital Project and Digital Infrastructure funding supporting the design, purchase, construction, restoration or renovation of facilities for humanities activities. Application Deadline: 5/17/2022

Environmental Small Grants Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA is working to improve the environment and public health conditions of tribal governments, low-income communities, and communities of color through the advancement of racial equity and environmental justice. Application Deadline: 5/20/2022

Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects
U.S. Department of Transportation
This program is competitive funding for projects of national or regional significance, including infrastructure in rural areas and to support access to broadband or projects that affect public health. Application Deadline: 5/23/2022

States Economic Development Assistance Program 
Delta Regional Authority
This funding within the eight states served by the federal Delta Regional Authority may apply for grants supporting job creation and infrastructure at the community level. Program Manual. Application Deadline: 6/5/2022

Community and Economic Development Opportunities

USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Marketing Service funds will develop, coordinate and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products by developing, coordinating, expanding and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, online sales or other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. Application Deadline: 5/16/2022

USDA Regional Food System Partnerships
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Marketing Service program to support partnerships that connect public and private resources to plan and develop local or regional food systems. Application Deadline: 5/16/2022

Community Economic Development Focus on Energy Communities
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
HHS’s Administration for Children and Families offers support for Community Economic Development work, to Community Development Corporations, for projects in energy communities. Application Deadline: 5/19/2022

Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development grants to provide technical assistance and training to help grantees identify and plan for community facility needs in their area. Federal Register. Application Deadline: 5/23/2022 on Grants.gov | Paper applications to the State Officeby 5/26/2022

Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service program to support the production and  marketing of climate-smart commodities via a set of pilot projects lasting one to five years.Press Release. Proposals Due: 5/27/2022

Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development technical assistance funds to support socially disadvantaged groups in rural areas with feasibility studies, business plans, strategic planning, and leadership training. Application Deadline: 6/13/2022

EDA’s 2022 Build to Scale Program
U.S. Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration’s Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship is soliciting applications under two funding tiers, the Venture Challenge and Capital Challenge, to strengthen regional innovation initiatives and invest in local business startups. Press Release. Application Deadline: 6/13/2022

Tribal Communities Opportunities

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Indian and Native American Program – Employment and Training Grant
U. S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration grants to support employment and training activities for Native Americans in the areas of healthcare, manufacturing, IT, energy and other industries. Application Deadline: 5/6/2022

Hazardous Waste Management Grant Program for Tribes
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA grants to federally-recognized tribes and intertribal consortia for the development and implementation of hazardous waste programs and for building capacity to address hazardous waste management on tribal lands. Application Deadline: 5/12/2022

Small Ambulatory Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Indian Health Service program to construct, expand, and/or modernize tribal owned small ambulatory healthcare facilities. Letter of Intent (Required): 5/15/2022

Native American Agriculture Fund Grants
Native American Agriculture Fund
Program to support native American farmers and ranchers: special emphasis on traditional foods, food sovereignty programs, lending, youth programming, climate resilience and COVID-19 response. Application Deadline: 5/18/2022

Rural Partners Network (RPN)
RPN is an alliance of federal agencies and civic partners working to expand rural prosperity through job creation, infrastructure development, and community improvement. Factsheet.

Thrive Rural Framework
The Aspen Institute offers as a new tool to help communities inventory, take action, and gauge progress on rural prosperity while gauging the readiness of people/leadership and organizations learn/act together.

Investing in Rural Prosperity
Published by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, this piece seeks to help rural individuals and communities achieve shared economic prosperity.

Vehicle to Everything: Memorandum of Understanding
U. S. Department of Energy and partners offer a First of Its Kind Collaboration to Accelerate “Vehicle-to-Everything” Technologies.

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia | Community Development
Visit this site to tap into numerous development resources including their Reinventing Our Communities Cohort Program.