Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2019
The Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), listed under CFDA 10.446, that is designed to strengthen rural communities by building the capacity of local organizations to plan and carry out community-driven projects. Rather than funding construction or direct services as the primary purpose, RCDI focuses on support through intermediaries that can deliver hands-on financial and technical assistance to smaller local entities that need help developing skills, systems, and readiness to implement projects tied to housing, community facilities, and broader community and economic development.
A central feature of the opportunity is the intermediary model. Eligible applicants compete to serve as an intermediary organization, meaning they are responsible for designing and running a program that provides both financial assistance and technical assistance to local recipients. In practical terms, this can include training, strategic planning support, grant and loan packaging assistance, organizational development, financial management coaching, board development, project feasibility work, and other capacity-building services that help local groups become capable of successfully undertaking rural development projects. The overall intent is to help recipient organizations increase their ability to identify needs, develop viable projects, secure financing, manage programs, and sustain long-term community improvements.
Funding levels are clearly defined. Awards range from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $250,000 per intermediary. The program also requires a one-to-one match: the intermediary must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the RCDI grant award. This means if an organization receives $200,000 in federal RCDI funds, it must contribute at least $200,000 in matching funds from eligible non-federal sources (the notice emphasizes that the match must be at least equal to the grant). This match requirement is a key planning consideration because it affects organizational readiness and the overall scale of what can be delivered under the proposed assistance program.
The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many types of public, private, and nonprofit entities, reflecting the program's intermediary approach. Applicants may include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as specified in the program's additional eligibility guidance. Even though many entity types can apply, the program description emphasizes "qualified private, nonprofit and public including tribal intermediary organizations" that can credibly run financial and technical assistance programs for rural community development purposes.
The projects supported through the recipients that the intermediary serves must relate to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development. The emphasis is on activities that ultimately support and benefit the community by improving local capacity to implement these kinds of projects. For example, an intermediary might help a rural nonprofit strengthen its governance and financial systems so it can successfully develop affordable housing, or assist a community group in planning and packaging financing for a community facility like a health clinic, fire station, or community center, or support local economic development planning that leads to job creation and stronger local services. The common thread is that the intermediary is expected to deliver structured assistance that measurably improves a recipient's ability to execute real projects, not just to provide one-off advice.
From the opportunity record, the funding opportunity title is Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) and the opportunity number is USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2019. The agency is the Department of Agriculture, Utilities Programs, and the activity categories include Agriculture and Community Development. The posting was created on March 27, 2019, with an original closing date of June 10, 2019. The award ceiling is $250,000, and the expected number of awards is 25, indicating a competitive national program with a limited number of funded intermediaries.
Overall, RCDI is best understood as a capacity-building grant opportunity where the applicant must function as an intermediary and demonstrate the ability to both fund and guide local organizations in rural areas. The required matching funds and the defined award range shape the scale of proposed work, while the program goals focus on strengthening rural institutions so they can successfully develop housing, community facilities, and community/economic development projects that have lasting local impact.Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2019
- The Department of Agriculture, Utilities Programs in the agriculture, community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)" 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 Mar 27, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 10, 2019. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 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, 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, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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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) (CFDA 10.446). It is designed to strengthen rural communities by building the capacity of local organizations to plan and carry out community-driven projects tied to housing, community facilities, and broader community and economic development.
What is the primary purpose of RCDI funding?
The primary purpose is capacity building. RCDI is focused on improving the skills, systems, readiness, and long-term effectiveness of local organizations so they can successfully develop and implement rural development projects. The program is not described as a construction program or a direct-services program as its main intent.
How does the intermediary model work in RCDI?
RCDI is built around an intermediary model. Eligible applicants compete to become intermediary organizations. If funded, the intermediary designs and runs a program that provides both financial assistance and technical assistance to smaller local recipient entities that need help building capacity to implement rural development projects.
Who actually receives help under RCDI: the grantee or local organizations?
The funded applicant serves as an intermediary and is responsible for delivering hands-on financial and technical assistance to local recipient organizations. The intent is that local recipients benefit through improved capacity and readiness to execute projects related to housing, community facilities, and community/economic development.
What kinds of assistance can an intermediary provide with RCDI funds?
Examples of allowable capacity-building support described include training, strategic planning support, grant and loan packaging assistance, organizational development, financial management coaching, board development, project feasibility work, and other structured services that help local groups strengthen their ability to identify needs, develop viable projects, secure financing, manage programs, and sustain improvements.
What types of projects must the assistance relate to?
The assistance provided to recipients must relate to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development. The common thread is that the intermediary improves an organization’s ability to successfully undertake real rural development projects in these areas.
Does RCDI mainly fund construction or direct program services?
No. The opportunity description emphasizes that RCDI’s focus is on capacity building through intermediaries. While the long-term outcomes may support projects like affordable housing or community facilities, the grant’s primary purpose is to strengthen organizations so they can implement those projects successfully.
What is the award amount range for RCDI grants?
RCDI awards range from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $250,000 per intermediary.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling is $250,000.
Is a match required under RCDI?
Yes. The program requires a one-to-one match. The intermediary must provide matching funds in an amount at least equal to the RCDI grant award.
How does the one-to-one match work in practice?
If an intermediary receives $200,000 in federal RCDI funds, it must contribute at least $200,000 in matching funds from eligible non-federal sources. The notice emphasizes that the match must be at least equal to the grant amount.
Why is the match requirement important when planning an application?
The match affects organizational readiness and the overall scale of what can be delivered. Because the intermediary must bring at least an equal amount of eligible non-federal funds, the match requirement directly shapes the size and feasibility of the proposed financial and technical assistance program.
Who is eligible to apply as an intermediary?
The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many public, private, and nonprofit entity types. The description highlights qualified private, nonprofit, and public (including tribal) intermediary organizations that can credibly run financial and technical assistance programs for rural community development purposes.
Which government entities may be eligible applicants?
Eligible applicants may include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; and federally recognized tribal governments.
Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed among eligible applicants.
Are housing authorities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are listed among eligible applicant types.
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status may be eligible (as long as they are not higher education institutions in those categories), based on the eligibility language provided in the opportunity description.
Are for-profit businesses eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses and small businesses are included in the eligible applicant list.
What makes an applicant a strong fit for the intermediary role?
Based on the opportunity description, a strong fit is an organization that can design and operate a structured program delivering both financial and technical assistance, and that can help local recipients build lasting capabilities (skills, systems, governance, financial management, and project readiness) for rural development work.
What outcomes is RCDI trying to achieve for rural communities?
RCDI aims to strengthen rural institutions so they can better identify needs, develop viable projects, secure financing, manage programs, and sustain long-term community improvements related to housing, community facilities, and community/economic development.
What is the official funding opportunity title and number?
The title is Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI). The opportunity number is USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2019.
Which federal agency administers this opportunity?
The administering agency is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Utilities Programs.
What activity categories are associated with this grant?
The activity categories listed are Agriculture and Community Development.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it originally due?
The posting was created on March 27, 2019, and the original closing date was June 10, 2019.
How competitive is the program based on expected awards?
The expected number of awards is 25, which indicates a competitive national program with a limited number of funded intermediaries.
Can RCDI support help for developing affordable housing projects?
Yes, as long as the intermediary’s support is capacity-building (for example, strengthening governance and financial systems so a rural nonprofit can successfully develop affordable housing) and aligns with the program’s housing-related purpose areas described.
Can RCDI support planning for community facilities like clinics or fire stations?
Yes. The description gives examples such as helping with planning and packaging financing for community facilities like a health clinic, fire station, or community center, consistent with the program’s community facilities focus area.
Does RCDI support broader local economic development efforts?
Yes. The program includes community and economic development as an eligible focus area, with an emphasis on assistance that improves a recipient organization’s ability to carry out viable development efforts that lead to stronger local services and long-term community impact.
What is the role of technical assistance versus financial assistance in RCDI?
The intermediary is expected to provide both. Technical assistance can include training, planning, and organizational support, while financial assistance supports the recipients as part of a structured capacity-building approach. The key expectation is measurable improvement in the recipients’ ability to execute projects.
Is one-time advice enough to meet the RCDI intent?
The description suggests the program is looking for structured assistance that measurably improves a recipient’s ability to execute real projects, rather than one-off advice.
What is CFDA 10.446?
CFDA 10.446 is the catalog listing identifier associated with this USDA Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) opportunity, as referenced in the opportunity information provided.
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| Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Apply for USDA RD CFTAT 2019 Funding Number: USDA RD CFTAT 2019 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utilities Programs Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Apply for USDA RD CFTAT 2020 Funding Number: USDA RD CFTAT 2020 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utilities Programs Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant - Disaster Relief Act 2019 Grant Funds Apply for USDA RD CFTAT 2020 DISASTER Funding Number: USDA RD CFTAT 2020 DISASTER Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utilities Programs Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Rural Community Development Initiative Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2020 Funding Number: USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2020 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Utilities Programs Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Rural Community Development Initiative Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2022 Funding Number: USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2022 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Service Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Apply for USDA RD CFTAT 2022 Funding Number: USDA RD CFTAT 2022 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Service Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Apply for USDA RD CFTAT 2023 Funding Number: USDA RD CFTAT 2023 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Service Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Rural Community Development Initiative Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2023 Funding Number: USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2023 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Service Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant - Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2023 Grant Funds Apply for USDA RD CFTAT 2023 DISASTER Funding Number: USDA RD CFTAT 2023 DISASTER Agency: Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Service Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Puerto Rico Rural Partners Network Rural Community Development Initiative Apply for USDA RD HCFP PR RPN RCDI 2024 Funding Number: USDA RD HCFP PR RPN RCDI 2024 Agency: Rural Housing Service Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Apply for USDA RD CFTAT 2024 Funding Number: USDA RD CFTAT 2024 Agency: Rural Housing Service Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2024 Funding Number: USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2024 Agency: Rural Housing Service Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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