Here’s another great grant opportunity from our good friends over at USDA Rural Development.
The Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) program provides technical assistance and training funds to qualified intermediary organizations (grant applicant) to develop the capacity of recipients they identify to undertake housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas. $6,256,000 in grant funds are available nationally in 2009 and applications have recently been invited. Applications must be received in the VT/NH State Office of USDA Rural Development by September 24, 2009 at 4PM.
Key program points are:
1. The RCDI grant is made to an intermediary. The intermediary provides a program of technical assistance to recipients to build their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development in rural areas.
2. The intermediary can be a private or public organization that has been legally organized a minimum of 3 years and has experience working with the recipients eligible for this program.
3. The recipients can be nonprofit organizations or low-income (MHI at or below 80% of state or national MHI) rural communities. Recipients must be located in eligible rural areas (less than 50,000 population and not “urbanized”). Priority is given to applications which serve smaller communities.
4. Matching funds are required and must be in the form of cash or confirmed funding commitments and be at least equal to the grant amount. In-kind contributions cannot be used as matching funds.
5. For 2009 the maximum grant award is $300,000 and the minimum is $50,000.
6. Additional information, including application forms and a list of prior recipients, are available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm
7. If you are interested in filing an application in VT or NH, we encourage you to contact Jon-Michael Muise [802-257-7878 x106 or jon.muise@vt.usda.gov] or Rhonda Shippee, Community Programs Director [802-828-6011 or rhonda.shippee@vt.usda.gov ] to discuss your proposal.
Tags: Jon-Michael Muise, Rhonda Shippee, USDA Rural Development