Rural Community Development Initiative

What is the purpose of the program?
Who is eligible to apply?
How can funds be used?
How much assistance can our group apply for?
When can we apply for assistance?
How will our application be evaluated?
How do we apply?

What is the purpose of the program? return to top
The Rural Community Development Initiative is designed to help private, not-for-profit, community-based organizations and low-income communities improve rural economic development, housing, and community facilities in rural areas.

Who is eligible to apply? return to top

Intermediaries:

Intermediaries provide financial and technical assistance to one or more Recipients
Intermediaries include:

Private, Non-profit Corporations
Public Bodies
Federally Recognized Native American Tribes

Intermediaries must have been legally organized for a minimum of 3 years and have at least 3 years prior experience working with private nonprofit community-based housing and development organizations, low-income rural communities, or tribal organizations in the areas of housing, community facilities, or community and economic development.

Recipients:

Recipients are the entities that receive financial and technical assistance from the Intermediary.
Recipients must be one of the following:

Private, non-profit community based housing and development organization
Low-income rural community
Federally Recognized Indian Tribes

Recipients must be located in an area with less than 50,000 residents

How can funds be used? return to top

The program provides funds to qualified Intermediaries who then provide technical assistance and training to Recipients to undertake housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas.
Examples of technical assistance and training include the following:

Developing recipients' capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development
Developing the capacity of recipients to conduct community development programs or development initiatives
Developing the capacity of recipients to provide the technical assistance component for essential community facilities projects
Assisting recipients in completing predevelopment requirements for housing, community facilities, or community and economic development projects by providing resources for professional services

How much assistance can our group apply for? return to top

Applicants must provide matching funds at least equal to the grant request.
Minimum grant request is $50,000; maximum $300,000, to be used over a 3 year period.

When can we apply for assistance? return to top

Grant applications are accepted during an application window which is announced in a Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA).
Typically, the window for submitting applications is open for 90 days from the date the NOFA is published in the Federal Register.

How will our application be evaluated? return to top

Applications are evaluated on a number of criteria:

Degree to which the proposed project will build the capacity of the recipients
Expertise of the applicant
Population of the communities where recipients are located
Income of the communities where recipients are located
Soundness of approach

Other factors include whether the project is related to the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements, the relative ranking of an application compared to others received in the state, and the proportional distribution of funds.

How do we apply? return to top

Applications are processed through the Community Programs Division at the State Office. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their local Rural Development Office to discuss potential projects.
For more information, access to the Notice of Funds Availability, and to obtain application documents, visit the National Office website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm.

Please send any comments or suggestions to:
keith.bastow@ia.usda.gov
Iowa Rural Development
Revised on: April 15, 2008