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The Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) for Fiscal Year 2003 was published in the Federal Register on July 30, 2003. .

RCDI Grant funds will be awarded 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 following are some of the highlights for the RCDI Program for FY 2003:

1. The web site to download application requirements and to obtain more information on the RCDI program is: www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm
   
2. The deadline for receipt of an application in the National Office is 4:00 PM EST October 28, 2003. The Agency will not consider any application received after the deadline.
   
3. The allocation for FY 2003 is $6 million. The respective minimum and maximum grant amount per intermediary is $50,000 and $500,000.
   
4. Matching Funds – The intermediary must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the RCDI Grant amount. Matching funds may be Federal Funds. In-kind contributions cannot be used as matching funds.
   
5. State Office Responsibilities – Review copy of application and provide the State Director’s written comments and recommendations to the National Office within 3 weeks of the application deadline.

The USDA's Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) provides grant funds to qualified private and public organizations, known as intermediaries, proposing to provide technical assistance to recipients are eligible to receive the funds.

 RCDI helps private, not-for-profit community-based programs improve rural economic development, housing, and community facilities in rural areas. The grant funds are used to provide technical assistance and training to recipient organizations. Participating organizations must provide matching funds from other non-federal sources in an amount equal to the amount of the grant.

The program was started in FY 2000 and Georgia received funding for two projects totaling $331,000. Projects were not selected in FY 2001 and those funds are being carried over for this year. Georgia projects funded were the Lower Chattahoochee Regional Development Center in Columbus and the Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone in Cordele, which are summarized below.

Southwest Georgia United Empowerment Zone - A grant of $256,000 to fund four non-profit agencies so that they can add staff to better offer technical assistance to their customers.  Receiving funds were: Dooly County Office of Economic Development, Crisp County Community Council, Gateway Center, and Dooly County Community Enrichment Coalition.  These funds benefit communities in Crisp and Dooly counties. 

Lower Chattahoochee Regional Development Center. - A grant for $75,000 to provide technical assistance to build the capacity of the Southern Lower Chattahoochee Council of Governments, Inc., to undertake and implement more projects to improve housing, community facilities and economic development in their rural area.

 Further information is available in a Notice of Funding Availability on Rural Development’s website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm. Anyone with questions can contact Beth Jones at (202) 720-1498 or at epjones@rdmail.rural.usda.gov.

Some of the eligibility requirements are:

• Recipients must be private, nonprofit organizations or low-income rural communities, not individuals.
• The intermediary organization must have at least three years prior experience working with nonprofit organizations or low-income rural communities in the areas of housing, community facilities, or community and economic development.
• Grants will range from $50,000 to $1 million.
• Grant funds must be used within 3 years from the date of the award.
• Non-federal matching funds are required. In-kind contributions cannot be used as matching funds.