Rural Development issued the following Stakeholder Annoucment on November 7, 2022:

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small today announced that USDA is seeking applications to implement regional economic and community development projects to create thriving communities for people in rural America.

The 2018 Farm Bill authorized USDA to make this funding available under the Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) initiative to support projects that will help rural people and economies prepare for the future. It can be used to implement projects that are included in multi-jurisdictional and multisectoral strategic community investment plans. In fiscal year 2023, this funding is available under the following USDA Rural Development programs:

To be eligible for SECD reserved funding, applicants must meet the requirements and deadlines under the covered programs. Applicants must also submit a Form 1980-88 to USDA. See additional requirements below.

  • Applications for SECD reserved funding through the Water and Waste Disposal Direct Loan and Grant Program, should be submitted electronically via RD Apply. If submitting an electronic application is not possible, applicants may submit paper forms at the USDA Rural Development office where the project is located.
  • USDA will issue an announcement in the coming months when the application window opens for the Community Connect Grants program. To apply for SECD reserved funding under this program, applicants must submit forms electronically.
  • To apply for SECD reserved funding under other grant programs or direct loan programs, applicants must submit forms to the USDA Rural Development office where the project is located.
  • To apply for SECD reserved funding under loan guarantee programs, applicants must submit their Form 1980-88 concurrent with the Form 5001-1 and any documentation required under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative application guidelines.

Potential applicants can learn more about SECD by watching this short video on how the initiative can help rural communities create strategic growth and help rural Americans thrive: Investing in Rural Communities Through Strategic Economic and Community Development – YouTube.

For more information on requirements and deadlines under the covered programs, visit www.rd.usda.gov. For additional information on SECD reserved funding, see page 67010 of the Nov. 7, 2022, Federal Register.

USDA Rural Development encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance key priorities under the Biden-Harris Administration to help rural America build back better and stronger. Key priorities include creating new and better markets, addressing the impacts of climate change and advancing equity in rural America. For more information, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.

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