USDA Government Grants

The USDA specializes in grants to improve rural areas.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers many grant, loan and guaranteed loan programs for American individuals and communities that are designated as rural. These are defined as those regions with cities with populations under 50,0000. USDA helps individual homeowners with housing, farmers with housing for workers, rural businesses with growth, and both individuals and communities with programs that reduce energy consumption and build infrastructure.

USDA Grants for Business

The goal of the Rural Development Business and Cooperative Programs (BCP) is to build a thriving business environment in rural America. To accomplish this, BCP provides financial assistance and business planning for private and community-based organizations. Examples of acceptable projects include land acquisition and development, building construction or renovation, and capitalization of revolving loan funds. Rural Business Opportunity Grants offer communities with exceptional needs from $50,000 to $150,000 to help with planning technical assistance for business development.

USDA Energy Grants

The High Energy Cost Grant Program provides funding for improved energy generation and transmission in communities with home energy costs exceeding 275 percent of the national average. The Rural Repair and Rehabilitation Loan and Grant is for homeowners aged 62 and older to renovate their homes to meet safety and energy efficiency standards.

USDA Technology Grants

The Community Connect Grant is designed to help rural communities develop the infrastructure needed to provide rural citizens with broadband Internet access. The Digital Transmission and Public Television Grant assists public television stations in transitioning to digital broadcasting. USDA also offers a Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant to enhance educational health and education needs in rural America. Funds can be used for computer hardware and software, audio and video equipment, and facilities for program delivery.

USDA Housing Grants and Loans

USDA offers grants, loans, and guaranteed loans to make it possible for low to moderate income families and individuals to purchase a home or renovate the home they already own. The Self-Help Technical Assistance Grant provides financial assistance to nonprofit organizations that help very-low-income families to build a home in a rural area by the self-help method (the homeowner physically works on the construction).

Considerations

All grants have eligibility requirements and some only go to government entities or nonprofit organizations. USDA does provide some assistance directly to individuals and families, but private citizens must contact their local USDA Rural Development office for details.

References

• USDA: Business and Cooperative Grant Assistance
• USDA: Rural Energy For America Program Grants/Renewable Energy Systems/Energy Efficiency Improvement Program (REAP/RES/EEI)
• USDA: Single-family Housing Loans and Grants
• USDA: High Energy Cost Grant Program
• USDA: About Community Connect Programs
• USDA: Technical Assistance

Resources

• USDA: Agencies & Offices