Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2023
The Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Housing Service, focused on strengthening the ability of rural communities to plan and carry out local development projects. Rather than funding construction or direct services by the grantee alone, the program is set up around an intermediary model: the organization that receives the federal award (the intermediary/grantee) is expected to deliver both financial assistance and hands-on technical assistance and training to local recipient organizations. Those recipients then use that support to build their own capacity and implement efforts that benefit their communities, with emphasis on projects tied to housing, community facilities, and broader community or economic development.
The core purpose is capacity-building. In practical terms, the intermediary is expected to help local organizations become more capable of designing projects, managing funding, complying with requirements, and sustaining initiatives over time. The intermediary provides a structured program of assistance to recipients, and the recipients, in turn, operate programs or activities that ultimately serve local beneficiaries in rural areas. This layered design is meant to create lasting local infrastructure for community development, not just a one-time project outcome.
A wide range of applicant types are eligible to apply as intermediaries, reflecting the program’s focus on organizations that can operate at a regional or multi-community level and provide expertise to smaller entities. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), public agencies at the state, county, and municipal levels, special district governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, institutions of higher education (public, state-controlled, and private), and even for-profit entities (including small businesses and other for-profits) as listed in the opportunity. The key eligibility concept is that the applicant must be positioned to act as an intermediary that can run a financial and technical assistance program for recipient organizations.
Funding levels are clearly defined. The minimum award per intermediary is $50,000 and the maximum is $500,000 (the award ceiling). The opportunity anticipated making around 30 awards. A major requirement is the match: the intermediary must contribute matching funds in an amount at least equal to the RCDI grant amount. In other words, this is a one-to-one match requirement, so applicants need to document and commit sufficient non-federal resources to meet or exceed the federal award.
Administratively, the opportunity is identified as USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2023, associated with CFDA/Assistance Listing number 10.446, and categorized under Agriculture and Community Development. The posting indicates a creation date of May 4, 2023, with an original closing date of June 28, 2023. Overall, RCDI is best understood as a technical assistance and training grant designed to build long-term rural community development capacity by funding intermediaries that can finance, train, and guide local organizations working on housing, community facilities, and community/economic development efforts.Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2023
- The Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Service 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 04, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 28, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) - FAQs
What is the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)?
The Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Housing Service. It is designed to strengthen rural communities by improving local organizations' ability to plan and carry out community development projects.
What is the main purpose of RCDI funding?
The core purpose is capacity-building. RCDI focuses on helping rural communities build long-term local capacity to design projects, manage funding, comply with requirements, and sustain initiatives over time, rather than producing a one-time project outcome.
Does RCDI fund construction or direct services by the grantee?
The program is not framed as a construction or direct service grant for the award recipient acting alone. Instead, it uses an intermediary model where the grantee supports local recipient organizations through financial assistance plus technical assistance and training.
How does the intermediary model work under RCDI?
The organization receiving the federal award acts as an intermediary (the grantee). The intermediary is expected to provide both financial assistance and hands-on technical assistance and training to local recipient organizations. Those recipient organizations then use the support to build their capacity and carry out efforts that benefit their rural communities.
Who ultimately benefits from RCDI?
The program is designed so that rural communities are the ultimate beneficiaries. The intermediary supports recipient organizations, and those recipients operate programs or activities that ultimately serve local beneficiaries in rural areas.
What kinds of projects or focus areas does RCDI emphasize?
RCDI places emphasis on projects tied to housing, community facilities, and broader community or economic development, with an overall focus on strengthening local development capacity.
What is the intermediary expected to deliver to recipient organizations?
The intermediary is expected to deliver a structured program that includes (1) financial assistance and (2) technical assistance and training. The intent is for recipient organizations to become more capable of planning and implementing development efforts.
What are recipient organizations expected to do with the support they receive?
Recipients are expected to use the intermediary's financial support and technical assistance/training to build organizational capacity and implement efforts that benefit their communities, especially in the areas of housing, community facilities, and community/economic development.
Who can apply to RCDI as an intermediary?
A wide range of applicant types are listed as eligible intermediaries, including nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), public agencies at the state, county, and municipal levels, special district governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, institutions of higher education (public, state-controlled, and private), and for-profit entities (including small businesses and other for-profits).
Is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit required to be eligible?
No. The eligibility list includes both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, along with multiple other organization types such as public agencies, tribal entities, institutions of higher education, and for-profit entities.
Can a for-profit organization apply?
Yes. The opportunity description includes for-profit entities (including small businesses and other for-profits) among eligible applicant types.
Can tribal governments or tribal organizations apply?
Yes. Tribal governments and tribal organizations are included in the listed eligible applicant types.
Can public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities apply?
Yes. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities are included in the listed eligible applicant types.
Can universities or colleges apply?
Yes. Institutions of higher education are included, including public, state-controlled, and private institutions.
What is the key eligibility concept for applicants?
The key concept is that the applicant must be positioned to act as an intermediary that can run a financial and technical assistance program for recipient organizations, rather than only carrying out a standalone project for itself.
What is the minimum and maximum award amount?
The minimum award per intermediary is $50,000. The maximum award (the award ceiling) is $500,000.
How many awards does RCDI expect to make?
The opportunity anticipated making around 30 awards.
Is matching funding required?
Yes. The intermediary must contribute matching funds in an amount at least equal to the RCDI grant amount.
What does the match requirement mean in practical terms?
It is a one-to-one match requirement. If an applicant requests a certain federal award amount under RCDI, the applicant must document and commit non-federal matching resources that meet or exceed that same amount.
What agency runs the RCDI program?
RCDI is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Rural Housing Service.
What is the opportunity identifier and Assistance Listing number?
The opportunity is identified as USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2023. The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 10.446.
How is this funding opportunity categorized?
The opportunity is categorized under Agriculture and Community Development.
What were the posting and closing dates shown for this opportunity?
The posting indicates a creation date of May 4, 2023, with an original closing date of June 28, 2023.
How should RCDI be understood in simple terms?
RCDI is best understood as a technical assistance and training grant designed to build long-term rural community development capacity by funding intermediaries that can finance, train, and guide local organizations working on housing, community facilities, and community/economic development efforts.
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