Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2014
Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2014
- The Utilities Programs 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 Rural Community Development Initiative.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 14, 2014 and posted on Aug 14, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 12, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,967,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: County governments City or township governments Independent school districts Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Private institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State 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 250,000.00 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 grant opportunity from USDA Rural Development (Utilities Programs) designed to strengthen local capacity in rural areas by funding intermediary organizations that can deliver both financial and technical assistance. Instead of awarding funds directly to every small community group, the program relies on qualified intermediaries to serve as the bridge between federal resources and on-the-ground rural housing and community development efforts. The overall intent is to help rural places build the skills, systems, and organizational strength needed to plan projects, manage housing and community development activities, and pursue longer-term community improvements.
Under this opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2014; CFDA 10.446), eligible applicants include a wide range of entities that can function as intermediaries, such as nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, local and state governments, federally recognized tribal governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, special district governments, and certain educational institutions. The key requirement is that the applicant must operate as an intermediary that proposes a structured program to provide financial and technical assistance to eligible local recipients. Those recipients can include private, nonprofit community-based housing and development organizations, low-income rural communities, and federally recognized tribes.
A major feature of the program is the cost-sharing requirement: the intermediary must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the RCDI grant award. In practice, this means the intermediary needs to bring a 1:1 match (or more), demonstrating commitment and leveraging additional resources alongside federal dollars. Grant awards to a single intermediary fall within a defined range, with a minimum (floor) of $50,000 and a maximum (ceiling) of $250,000. The program anticipated making about 50 awards, supported by an estimated total funding amount of $5,967,000.
The geographic and community eligibility rules focus on rural benefit. While the intermediary itself is not restricted by the small-town location requirement, the recipient that ultimately benefits from the intermediary assistance must be located in a city or town with a population under 50,000. This ensures the capacity-building support is targeted to smaller and rural communities rather than larger urban areas. Because the assistance is delivered through intermediaries, proposed activities typically emphasize practical, hands-on support such as training, organizational development, strategic planning, project development guidance, financial management improvements, and other technical services that help local organizations and communities successfully implement housing and community development efforts.
In terms of timing and administrative details from the posted announcement, the opportunity was posted on August 14, 2014, with an application closing date of November 12, 2014, and an archive date of February 16, 2015. Questions or issues accessing the full announcement were directed to a program contact, Shirley Stevenson, at (202) 205-9685.
Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) - FAQs
What is the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)?
The Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) is a discretionary grant opportunity from USDA Rural Development (Utilities Programs). It is designed to strengthen local capacity in rural areas by funding intermediary organizations that can provide both financial assistance and technical assistance to eligible local recipients working on rural housing and community development efforts.
What is the main purpose of RCDI funding?
The program is intended to help rural places build the skills, systems, and organizational strength needed to plan projects, manage housing and community development activities, and pursue longer-term community improvements. Instead of funding each small community group directly, USDA funds intermediaries that then support local recipients.
Who does USDA fund directly under this program?
USDA awards RCDI grants to qualified intermediary organizations. The intermediary then delivers financial and technical assistance to eligible local recipients (such as community-based housing and development organizations, low-income rural communities, and tribes).
What does it mean to be an "intermediary" under RCDI?
An intermediary is an eligible applicant that proposes a structured program to provide financial and technical assistance to eligible local recipients. The intermediary serves as the link between federal grant funds and on-the-ground rural housing and community development capacity-building.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply as intermediaries?
Eligible applicants (intermediaries) include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, local governments, state governments, federally recognized tribal governments, public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, special district governments, and certain educational institutions.
Who can receive assistance from the intermediary (local recipients)?
Eligible local recipients can include private, nonprofit community-based housing and development organizations, low-income rural communities, and federally recognized tribes.
Are applicants required to provide matching funds?
Yes. A core feature of RCDI is the cost-sharing requirement. The intermediary must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the RCDI grant award, effectively requiring a 1:1 match (or more).
How much funding can a single intermediary receive?
Grant awards to a single intermediary have a minimum (floor) of $50,000 and a maximum (ceiling) of $250,000.
How many awards were expected to be made, and what was the estimated total funding?
The program anticipated making about 50 awards, supported by an estimated total funding amount of $5,967,000.
Does the intermediary have to be located in a rural area?
Not necessarily. The location restriction emphasized in the announcement focuses on who ultimately benefits from the intermediary assistance. The intermediary itself is not described as being restricted by the small-town location requirement in the provided information.
What is the population rule for communities that benefit from RCDI assistance?
The recipient that ultimately benefits from intermediary assistance must be located in a city or town with a population under 50,000. This is meant to ensure the support is directed to smaller and rural communities rather than larger urban areas.
What kinds of activities are typically supported through RCDI assistance?
Because the program is centered on capacity-building, supported activities typically include hands-on training, organizational development, strategic planning, project development guidance, financial management improvements, and other technical services that help local organizations and communities carry out housing and community development efforts.
Is this opportunity identified by a specific funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
Yes. The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2014, and the CFDA number is 10.446.
When was this opportunity posted, and what were the key dates listed?
The opportunity was posted on August 14, 2014. The application closing date was November 12, 2014, and the archive date was February 16, 2015.
Who was listed as the contact for questions or access issues?
Questions or issues accessing the full announcement were directed to Shirley Stevenson at (202) 205-9685.
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| Rural Community Development Initiative Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2015 Funding Number: USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2015 Agency: Utilities Programs Category: Agriculture Community Development Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| 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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