General opportunities

The Future of Farming course
Offered through a partnership between the Institute for the Cooperative Digital Economy and NCBA CLUSA, this introductory business course will provide a no-nonsense overview of how to succeed in the rapidly changing cooperative agricultural sector. The standard course fee is $150. Full scholarships are being offered to historically underserved farmers, ranchers, cooperators, cooperative developers, and those working in adjacent/related sectors based in the U.S. Apply for a scholarship.
When: June 14 from 1-3 pm EDT

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Loans & Grants
This USDA Rural Development program provides funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. More flexible Inflation Reduction Act Changes. To apply, contact your State Energy Coordinator.
Application deadline: six quarterly cycles

USDA Funding opportunities for infrastructure

Water and waste disposal loan and grant program
USDA Rural Development offers funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.
Application deadline: ongoing 

Emergency community water assistance grants
USDA Rural Development grants for eligible communities to prepare for or recover from an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water.
Application Deadline: ongoing

Single family housing rural disaster home repair grants
USDA Rural Development grants to very-low and low-income homeowners to repair homes damaged in a calendar year 2022 Presidentially Declared Disaster Area. To determine your eligibility, review the list of Presidentially Declared Disasters by State and County. To get started, contact a USDA home loan specialist in your area.
Application Deadline: open 

Housing preservation grant program
USDA Rural Development provides funding to sponsoring organizations for the repair or rehabilitation of applicable housing. Funding may also be available to help repair homes damaged during a calendar year 2022 Presidentially Declared Disaster Area.
Application Deadline: June 5, 2023 

Community connect grant program
USDA Rural Development provides funding to construct broadband networks in rural areas that do not currently have broadband service.
Application Deadline: June 20, 2023

Funding opportunities for community and economic development

SEARCH – Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development funding for financially distressed rural communities of less than 2,500 people to assist with feasibility studies, design assistance and technical assistance on proposed water and waste disposal projects.
Application deadline: open 

Water and Waste Disposal Pre-development Planning Grants
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers grants to help low-income, rural communities with the initial planning and development of applications for their Water and Waste Disposal loan/grant and loan guarantee programs.
Application deadline: ongoing 

Rural Energy Savings Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides loans to entities that agree to make affordable loans to help consumers implement cost-effective, energy efficiency measures to lower energy bills for rural families and businesses and reduce barriers to investment in energy efficiency projects or activities.
Application deadline: open 

Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development provides technical assistance for the development of cooperatives or the formation of new cooperatives including leadership training, the development of feasibility studies, business plans and/or strategic plans.
Application deadline: May 16, 2023 

Energizing Rural Communities Prize
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations offers funding for entrepreneurs, university faculty, student groups, community organizations, tribal and local governments, financial institutions, industry professionals, and others with ideas to help organize or finance a clean energy demonstration project in a rural or remote area.
Application deadline: May 24, 2023 

Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations Grant Program
U.S. Department of Labor
DOL Employment and Training Administration and Women’s Bureau grant program supports community-based organizations in their efforts to recruit, train, and retain more women in Registered Apprenticeship Programs and industries where they are underrepresented such as construction, manufacturing, and cybersecurity.
Application deadline: May 25, 2023 

Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program
Environmental Protection Agency
EPA program supporting the design of a new pass-through program to provide grant funds via subawards to community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible subrecipient groups representing underserved and disadvantaged communities.
Application deadline: May 31, 2023 

Celebrate National Small Business Week at our May Co-op Circle Happy Hour

After years of service, Lowery steps down from ICA Board of Directors – O’Brien to fulfill remaining term

Broadband Technical Assistance Program 
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development offers this program to support technical assistance projects such as conducting feasibility studies, completing network designs and developing broadband financial assistance applications. Funding is also available to help organizations access federal resources, and to conduct data collection and reporting. Read the full news release.
Application deadline: June 20, 2023 

Funding opportunities for Tribal communities

USDA Rural Development launches new Tribal Relations webpage
The USDA Rural Development Tribal Relations office is a part of the Innovation Center’s Strategic Engagement Division, which ensures relevant programs and policies are efficient, easy to understand, accessible, and developed in consultation with the American Indians and Alaska Native constituents they impact. 

Clean Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE’s Office of Indian Energy new funding to support tribal communities expand clean energy deployment, lower energy costs, and strengthen energy security. FOA press release.
Application Deadline: May 16, 2023 

Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project Community Technical Assistance
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory helps remote, island and islanded communities transform their energy systems and increase energy resilience. YouTube Webinar Recording.
Technical assistance application deadline: May 19, 2023 

Tribal Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program: Implementation and Expansion Grants
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families funding to implement and expand evidence-based home visiting services in tribal communities.
Application deadline: May 31, 2023 
 
Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Program
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE offers this program to strengthen and modernize America’s power grid against wildfires, extreme weather, and other natural disasters that are exacerbated by the climate crisis.
Application deadline: May 31, 2023 

Indigenous animals harvesting and meat processing grant program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA Rural Development, in collaboration with Agricultural Marketing Service, offer funding to expand meat and poultry processing options for underserved producers and Tribal communities. More information is available on USDA’s Indigenous Animals Grants webpage. 
Application deadline: July 19, 2023 

Transitioning Tribal Colleges and Universities to Clean Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
DOE’s Office of Indian Energy offers funding to support clean energy project and curriculum planning, technology support and curriculum deployment.
Application deadline: July 27, 2023