Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2012
Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2012
- The Utilities Programs in the agriculture community development 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 Mar 21, 2012 and posted on Mar 21, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 9, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $8,611,000.00 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 Private institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Special district governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments City or township governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities County governments.
- 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 USDA Rural Development grant program (CFDA 10.446) designed to strengthen capacity in rural places by funding intermediary organizations that can deliver hands-on financial and technical assistance to local groups. Rather than funding a rural community or nonprofit directly, RCDI generally works through an intermediary model: an eligible organization applies for the grant and then uses the award to support eligible rural recipients through training, guidance, and in some cases financial support aimed at community and housing development outcomes. The program sits in the broader Agriculture and Community Development funding activity area and, for this notice, was administered through USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs.
Under this opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2012), the entities that can apply are relatively broad and include qualified private, nonprofit, and public organizations, including federally recognized tribal governments, as long as they are positioned to function as intermediaries. Eligible applicant types listed include city/township, county, state, and special district governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; certain for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The key requirement is that the applicant must propose to operate a financial and technical assistance program as an intermediary, meaning the intermediary is responsible for delivering capacity-building services to eligible recipients rather than simply carrying out a standalone project for itself.
A central feature of RCDI is its cost-sharing requirement. The intermediary must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the federal grant award (a 1:1 match). This means if an intermediary requests $150,000 in RCDI funds, it must bring at least $150,000 in matching resources to the table. The notice emphasizes that this match obligation rests on the intermediary applicant. Award sizes are set with a clear floor and ceiling: the minimum grant amount per intermediary is $50,000 and the maximum is $300,000. For this funding cycle, USDA estimated total available funding at $8,611,000, indicating multiple awards were anticipated, subject to proposal quality and program priorities.
The assistance funded under RCDI must be directed toward eligible recipients in rural areas and is aimed at building local capacity to plan, develop, and carry out community development and housing-related initiatives. The intermediary must provide a program of financial and technical assistance to one or more of the following recipient types: a private nonprofit, community-based housing and development organization; a low-income rural community; or a federally recognized tribe. An additional location rule applies to the recipient (not the intermediary): the recipient must be located in a city or town with a population of less than 50,000. In practice, this requirement helps ensure the program stays focused on rural or small-community needs, even if the intermediary organization itself is based elsewhere.
Timing and administrative details in the announcement show this was a time-limited competition. The opportunity was posted and created on March 21, 2012, with an original and current closing date of May 9, 2012, and it was later archived on January 31, 2013. Applicants seeking the full official requirements and application instructions were directed to the NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) link provided in the announcement. For access issues or questions about the announcement, the contact listed was Shirley Stevenson (phone 202-205-9685; fax 202-690-0471; email referenced in the notice).
Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Grant FAQs (USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2012)
What is the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)?
The Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) is a discretionary USDA Rural Development grant program (CFDA 10.446) intended to strengthen capacity in rural areas. It does this by funding intermediary organizations that provide hands-on financial and technical assistance to eligible rural recipients working on community development and housing-related efforts.
Is RCDI designed to fund rural communities or nonprofits directly?
Not typically. RCDI generally uses an intermediary model, meaning an eligible organization applies for the grant and then uses the award to support eligible rural recipients through training, guidance, and sometimes financial support. The intermediary is responsible for delivering the assistance program rather than simply completing a standalone project for itself.
What does it mean to apply as an intermediary under RCDI?
Applying as an intermediary means the applicant must propose to operate a financial and technical assistance program that builds the capacity of eligible recipients. The intermediary provides services like training and technical guidance, and may provide certain forms of financial support, with the goal of enabling recipients to plan, develop, and carry out community development and housing initiatives.
Which federal program identifier is associated with this grant?
The program is identified as CFDA 10.446 in the notice.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2012.
Which USDA area administers this opportunity in the notice?
For this notice, the program was administered through USDA Rural Development Utilities Programs.
What activity area does this funding fall under?
The notice places this opportunity within the broader Agriculture and Community Development funding activity area.
Who is eligible to apply for RCDI under this notice?
Eligible applicants are described as qualified private, nonprofit, and public organizations, including federally recognized tribal governments, as long as they are positioned to function as intermediaries delivering financial and technical assistance to eligible recipients.
What types of organizations are listed as eligible applicant types?
The notice lists a broad range of eligible applicant types, including:
- City/township governments
- County governments
- State governments
- Special district governments
- Public housing authorities
- Indian housing authorities
- Independent school districts
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Certain for-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes, the notice includes certain for-profit organizations as eligible applicants, specifically noting "other than small businesses."
Do applicants need to be nonprofits to apply?
No. While nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible, the notice also includes public entities and certain for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), as well as federally recognized tribal governments.
Can a tribal government apply?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments are explicitly included as eligible applicants, as long as they propose to function as intermediaries.
Does the intermediary have to be located in a rural area?
The location rule emphasized in the notice applies to the recipient (not the intermediary). The notice explains that the recipient must be located in a city or town with a population of less than 50,000, which helps keep the assistance focused on rural or small-community needs even if the intermediary is based elsewhere.
Who can receive assistance from an RCDI intermediary?
The intermediary must provide a program of financial and technical assistance to one or more of the following eligible recipient types:
- A private nonprofit, community-based housing and development organization
- A low-income rural community
- A federally recognized tribe
What is the population limit for an eligible recipient location?
The notice states that the recipient must be located in a city or town with a population of less than 50,000.
What types of activities does RCDI support?
Based on the notice description, RCDI supports capacity-building assistance aimed at enabling rural recipients to plan, develop, and carry out community development and housing-related initiatives. The intermediary provides hands-on financial and technical assistance such as training and guidance, and in some cases may provide financial support tied to these outcomes.
What is the cost-sharing or match requirement?
RCDI has a cost-sharing requirement that requires the intermediary to provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the federal grant award. This is described as a 1:1 match.
Who is responsible for providing the match?
The notice emphasizes that the match obligation rests on the intermediary applicant.
Can you give an example of how the 1:1 match works?
Yes. The notice provides an example: if an intermediary requests $150,000 in RCDI funds, it must provide at least $150,000 in matching resources.
What is the minimum grant amount an intermediary can request?
The notice states that the minimum grant amount per intermediary is $50,000.
What is the maximum grant amount an intermediary can request?
The notice states that the maximum grant amount per intermediary is $300,000.
How much total funding was estimated to be available in this cycle?
For this funding cycle, USDA estimated total available funding at $8,611,000.
Does the total available funding suggest multiple awards?
Yes. The notice indicates that multiple awards were anticipated, subject to proposal quality and program priorities.
When was this funding opportunity posted and created?
The notice states it was posted and created on March 21, 2012.
What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date listed in the notice was May 9, 2012.
Is this opportunity still active?
No. The notice indicates the opportunity was archived on January 31, 2013.
Where were applicants directed to find the full official requirements and application instructions?
Applicants were directed to the NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) link provided in the announcement for full official requirements and application instructions.
Who was the contact person listed for access issues or questions about the announcement?
The contact listed in the notice was Shirley Stevenson.
What contact information was provided for the listed contact?
The notice lists the following contact details for Shirley Stevenson:
- Phone: 202-205-9685
- Fax: 202-690-0471
- Email: referenced in the notice (specific address not included in the provided summary)
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Applicants also applied for:
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Rural Youth Development Apply for USDA NIFA F4HN 004329 Funding Number: USDA NIFA F4HN 004329 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Community Development Funding Amount: $258,000 |
| Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2013 Funding Number: USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2013 Agency: Utilities Programs Category: Agriculture Community Development Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Community Connect Apply for RDRUS CC 2014 Funding Number: RDRUS CC 2014 Agency: Utilities Programs Category: Agriculture Community Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Rural Community Development Initiative Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2014 Funding Number: USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2014 Agency: Utilities Programs Category: Agriculture Community Development Funding Amount: $250,000 |
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| Children, Youth Families at Risk Sustainable Community Projects Apply for USDA CSREES SLBCD 002524 Funding Number: USDA CSREES SLBCD 002524 Agency: CSREES Category: Agriculture Community Development Funding Amount: $140,000 |
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