Funding Opportunity under Rural Community Development Initiative

USDA today announced the availability of $6,256,000 of competitive grant funds for the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDC) program through the Rural Housing Service (RHS).

These grants will be made to qualified intermediary organizations that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development.

The RCDI grant program also includes an initiative called “Great Regions.”

Great Regions are defined as "multi-jurisdictional areas typically within a State, territory, or Federally-designated Tribal land but which can cross State, territory, or Tribal boundaries. The Great Regions approach is intended to combine the resources of the Agency with those of State and local governments, educational institutions, and the private and nonprofit sectors to implement regional economic and community development strategies.

Applicants must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the Federal grant.

The criteria include "Building Capacity" (including entrepreneurship, microenterprise, and strategic planning).

Click here for full background, application requirements, and all
Federal review criteria. http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/ <http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/>

Applications are due December 22, 2010.

(Many thanks to Susanna Trujillo, M.P.A.,
Tribal Solid and Hazardous Waste Program, for passing this along.)