Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2010
Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2010
- The Utilities Programs in the agriculture community development housing sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.446 Rural Community Development Initiative.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 23, 2010 and posted on Sep 23, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 22, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,256,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Independent school districts Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments Private institutions of higher education County governments City or township governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- The Intermediary will be required to provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the RCDI grant. The respective minumum and maximum grant amount per Intermediary is 50,000.00 and 300,000.00. The Recipient, but not the Intermediary, must be located in a city or town that has a population of less than 50,000 inhabitants.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) is a discretionary federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under CFDA 10.446. It is designed to strengthen rural communities by funding intermediary organizations that can deliver both financial assistance and hands-on technical assistance to eligible rural beneficiaries. The core idea is that USDA funds flow first to a capable intermediary, and that intermediary then uses the resources to build the capacity of local organizations and communities to carry out housing, community development, and related rural initiatives.
Under this opportunity, the direct applicant is the intermediary, not the ultimate local beneficiary. Eligible intermediaries include a wide range of qualified entities across the nonprofit, public, and tribal sectors, including 501(c)(3) nonprofits, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), tribal governments that are federally recognized, state and local governments (counties, cities/townships, special districts), public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, independent school districts, and public or private institutions of higher education. The intermediary must propose a structured program that provides financial and technical assistance to one or more eligible recipients, which can include a private nonprofit, a community-based housing and development organization, a low-income rural community, or a federally recognized tribe.
A key requirement of the program is cost sharing. The intermediary must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the USDA grant amount, effectively requiring a 1:1 match. This means applicants need to demonstrate they can secure and document non-federal (or otherwise allowable) matching resources at the same level as the requested federal funding, and they should expect that the match will be a central factor in application readiness and competitiveness.
Award sizes are clearly bounded. The minimum grant amount per intermediary is $50,000 and the maximum (award ceiling) is $300,000. Total estimated funding available for the competition was $6,256,000. While the intermediary can be located broadly, the program places a geographic eligibility condition on the recipient (the entity or community being served): the recipient, but not necessarily the intermediary, must be located in a city or town with a population of fewer than 50,000 residents. This population threshold is meant to keep the program focused on rural and smaller-community needs rather than larger urban areas.
From an activity standpoint, the funding is aligned with agriculture, community development, and housing-related capacity building. In practical terms, the grant supports intermediaries that can help rural organizations and communities improve their ability to plan projects, develop affordable housing or community facilities efforts, strengthen governance and financial management, prepare for and manage development funding, and generally increase organizational effectiveness so that local groups can successfully implement community development strategies over time. The intermediary model is meant to ensure that smaller rural entities that may lack staff capacity or technical expertise still have a pathway to receive high-quality assistance.
For timeline context, this specific posting (Funding Opportunity Number USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2010) was posted on September 23, 2010, with an original closing date of December 23, 2010, later reflected as a current closing date of December 22, 2010. It was archived on January 22, 2011. The agency listing references USDA Utilities Programs, and the opportunity includes a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) as the formal announcement reference. For applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement at the time, the listed contact was Susan Woolard (phone 202-720-1506; fax 202-690-0471).
Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) - FAQs
What is the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)?
The Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) is a discretionary federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under CFDA 10.446. It is designed to strengthen rural communities by funding intermediary organizations that then provide financial assistance and hands-on technical assistance to eligible rural beneficiaries.
Who is the applicant under this program: the rural community or an intermediary organization?
The direct applicant is the intermediary organization, not the ultimate local beneficiary. USDA funding flows first to a capable intermediary, and the intermediary then uses the grant (and required match) to build the capacity of eligible recipients in rural areas.
What does an “intermediary†do in RCDI?
The intermediary proposes and runs a structured program that provides both financial assistance and technical assistance to one or more eligible recipients. The purpose is to strengthen local capacity so rural organizations and communities can successfully carry out housing, community development, and related initiatives over time.
Which organizations can apply as eligible intermediaries?
Eligible intermediaries include a wide range of qualified entities across nonprofit, public, and tribal sectors, including:
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- State and local governments (counties, cities/townships, special districts)
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Independent school districts
- Public or private institutions of higher education
Who can receive assistance from an RCDI-funded intermediary?
The intermediary can provide financial and technical assistance to one or more eligible recipients, which may include:
- A private nonprofit organization
- A community-based housing and development organization
- A low-income rural community
- A federally recognized tribe
Is there a rural or population requirement, and who must meet it?
Yes. The geographic eligibility condition applies to the recipient being served (the entity or community receiving assistance), not necessarily the intermediary. The recipient must be located in a city or town with a population of fewer than 50,000 residents.
Does the intermediary have to be located in a town under 50,000 people?
Not necessarily. The opportunity notes that the recipient (the organization or community being served) must meet the population threshold (fewer than 50,000 residents), but the intermediary does not necessarily have to be located in a community under that limit.
What kinds of activities does RCDI funding support?
RCDI supports capacity-building work aligned with agriculture, community development, and housing-related efforts. In practical terms, funding supports intermediaries that help rural organizations and communities improve their ability to:
- Plan and develop projects
- Develop affordable housing or community facilities efforts
- Strengthen governance and financial management
- Prepare for and manage development funding
- Increase organizational effectiveness so local groups can implement community development strategies over time
Does RCDI provide technical assistance, financial assistance, or both?
Both. The program is specifically described as funding intermediary organizations that can deliver financial assistance and hands-on technical assistance to eligible rural beneficiaries.
What is the cost-sharing (matching funds) requirement?
A 1:1 match is required. The intermediary must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the USDA grant amount. Applicants are expected to demonstrate they can secure and document allowable matching resources at the same level as the requested federal funds.
How important is the match to application readiness and competitiveness?
The match is described as a key requirement and a central factor in application readiness and competitiveness. Applicants should expect that demonstrating the ability to secure and document the full 1:1 match is a major part of being prepared to apply.
What are the minimum and maximum award amounts?
The minimum grant amount per intermediary is $50,000. The maximum award (award ceiling) is $300,000.
How much total funding was estimated to be available under this competition?
The total estimated funding available for the competition was $6,256,000.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this posting?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2010.
When was this funding opportunity posted and when did it close?
This posting was dated September 23, 2010. It listed an original closing date of December 23, 2010, and it was later reflected with a current closing date of December 22, 2010.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The listing indicates it was archived on January 22, 2011.
Which federal agency administers RCDI?
RCDI is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The agency listing for this opportunity references USDA Utilities Programs.
What formal announcement type is referenced for this opportunity?
The opportunity references a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) as the formal announcement reference.
Who was the listed contact for applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement?
The listed contact was Susan Woolard. Phone: 202-720-1506. Fax: 202-690-0471.
What is the CFDA number associated with RCDI?
The CFDA number provided for RCDI is 10.446.
What is the main goal of using an intermediary model?
The intermediary model is intended to ensure smaller rural entities that may lack staff capacity or technical expertise still have a pathway to receive high-quality assistance. USDA funds a capable intermediary, and the intermediary then builds local capacity so rural communities and organizations can implement housing and community development initiatives more effectively over time.
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