Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA)

Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

     Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) are authorized by section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)). Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F. The primary objective of the RCDG program is to improve the economic condition of rural areas through cooperative development. RCDG grants are used to facilitate the creation or retention of jobs in rural areas through the development of new rural cooperatives, value-added processing and other rural businesses. The program is administered through USDA Rural Development State Offices acting on behalf of RBS.

     Section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act was amended by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-171) (Mar 13, 2002) to modify the matching requirement required of RCDG grant applicants that are "1994 Institutions" (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103-382)). (The final rule implementing this amendment was published in the April 29, 2004 Federal Register. See 69 FR 23418-23436.) 1994 Institutions are not required to provide non-Federal financial support (matching funds) greater than 5 percent of the grant awarded. In the case of all applicants, preference points will be awarded where applicants commit to providing greater than the minimum 25 percent matching contribution. A current list of 1994 Institutions may be obtained from RBS.