The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee is accepting community project requests for the following accounts:
- Agricultural Research Service, Buildings and Facilities
- Rural Development, Rural Community Facility Grants
- Rural Utilities Service, ReConnect Grants
- Rural Utilities Service, Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants
- Natural Resources Conservation Service, Conservation Operations
Full guidance from the Subcommittee is available here. Requests must comply with underlying statutory and regulatory requirements (e.g., cost share). Any recipients of CPFs that are funded in the bill will need to apply to USDA for the award.
Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Buildings and Facilities
Facility requests must be for ARS-owned facilities or for facilities that will enhance ongoing ARS work.
- Requests can assist in the acquisition of land, construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or facilities as necessary to carry out the agricultural research programs of the Department of Agriculture.
- Applicants should provide details on the research to be conducted, why the research is a high priority, as well as details on the modernization and why it is critical in carrying out the research.
Rural Development, Rural Community Facility Grants
Grants to purchase, construct, or improve essential community facilities, to purchase equipment, and pay other related project expenses.
- Includes, but not limited to, healthcare facilities, public facilities, public safety measures, educational services, or other community support services.
- Examples of eligible projects include; medical or dental clinics, towns halls, courthouses, childcare centers, police or fire departments, public works vehicles, or distance learning equipment.
- Projects must serve a rural area as specified in 7 CFR 3570.53.
- Cost share requirements: the Community Facilities program has a cost share as documented in 7 CFR 3570.63(b).
- Subject to the maximum grant assistance limitations specified in 7 CFR 3570.63(b).
- Grants generally cannot be used to pay initial operating expenses or annual recurring expenses, refinance existing debt, pay interest, build or repair facilities in non-rural areas, or pay for construction costs of facilities that will be used for commercial rental space.
- Credit Elsewhere Test: Applicants must certify they cannot finance the project from their own resources and credit is not otherwise available on reasonable terms from non-Federal sources.
- Submissions should include details on all proposed uses of funds, activities that will occur, timeline, and detailed information on the complete service territory, including median household income of the proposed project.
The South Carolina State Rural Development Office is a valuable resource to answer program questions, including eligibility.
Note: for fiscal year 2022, the average CPF funding level was just over $1 million. The Appropriations Committee will consider higher project requests for fiscal year 2023. However, projects requesting significantly more than that average may be more difficult to fund and funding will depend on program demand and other variables.
Rural Utilities Service, ReConnect Grants
Grants to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas that lack sufficient access to broadband.
- Funds can be used for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service.
- A rural area is any area which is not located within:
- A city, town, or incorporated area that has a population of greater than 20,000 inhabitants; or
- an urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants.
- Sufficient access to broadband is defined as greater than 90% of any rural area in which households have fixed, terrestrial broadband service delivering at least 10 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream.
- Mobile and satellite services will not be considered in making the determination of sufficient access to broadband.
- Stand-alone middle-mile projects are not eligible under the ReConnect Program. However, middle-mile facilities are eligible if they are needed to bring sufficient broadband service to all premises in the area.
- Cost share requirements: 25% of the overall project cost. Policies and procedures can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xexPT
Note: for fiscal year 2022, the average ReConnect CPF award was nearly $2 million. The subcommittee will consider higher project requests for fiscal year 2023. However, projects requesting significantly more than that average may be more difficult to fund and funding will depend on program demand and other variables.
Rural Utilities Service, Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grants
Click here to download the project request form for the RUS - DLT account
The DLT program provides grants that help:
- rural residents better utilize the enormous potential of modern telecommunications and the internet for education and healthcare, two critical components of economic and community development.
- rural communities acquire the technology and training necessary to connect educational and medical professionals with students, teachers, and patients in rural areas.
- Applicants should provide as much detail as possible on:
- how the award will be utilized,
- what equipment of service will be acquired and
- any information on population(s) served.
- Subject to all the program regulations found at 7 CFR Part 1734.
- Cost share requirements: 15% match that cannot come from another federal source.
- Intended to serve rural areas with populations of 20,000 or less.
Grants may be used for:
- audio and video equipment, broadband facilities that support distance learning or telemedicine (not actual broadband), computer hardware or network components/software, and acquisition of instructional programing.
The South Carolina State Rural Development Office is a valuable resource to answer program questions, including eligibility.
Note: competitive awards in this program typically range from $50,000 to $1,000,000 and the Committee will consider projects in this range. This a new account for the fiscal 2023 House process; in fiscal year 2022, the average Senate CPF in this account was $359,000.
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Conservation Operations
Click here to download the project request form for the NRCS - Conservation Operations account
Supports private landowners, conservation districts, and other organizations to conserve, maintain, and improve the Nation’s natural resources.
Four major program components:
- Conservation Technical Assistance
- Soil Survey
- Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting,
- Plant Materials Centers
Examples of specific objectives for projects could include:
- reducing soil erosion,
- Improving soil health,
- enhancing water supplies,
- improving water quality,
- increasing wildlife habitat, and
- reducing damage caused by floods and other natural disasters.
The subcommittee will NOT consider proposals under the urban agriculture program this year as part of CPFs in Conservation Operations.
Applicants should:
- provide details on the work to be done, including if the project will conduct surveys, investigations, or research, and if there is a plan to publish the results of any such work.
- describe any preventive measures to be taken, such as engineering operations, methods of cultivation, or changes in use of land.
Note: this is a new account for the fiscal year 2023 House process; in fiscal year 2022, the average Senate CPF in this account was $1.1 million. The Committee will consider higher project requests for fiscal year 2023. However, projects requesting significantly more than that average may be more difficult to accommodate and will depend on program demand and other variables.