25 Feb Funding Alert! Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grants

United States Department of Agriculture – Rural Development

Is your organization or government agency seeking to increase employment opportunities and readiness for rural communities? Check out this great opportunity from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA recently announced $10 million in grant awards to support job accelerator partnerships to improve the ability of rural communities to create high-wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, and help rural communities identify and maximize local assets. Applications for this program are due April 19, 2022.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants must be part of a rural jobs accelerator partnership formed after December 12, 2018. This includes both for-and non-profit district organizations, federally recognized tribes, state and local government, institutions of higher education, and public or private nonprofit organizations. The USDA strongly encourages applicants to submit a concept paper. This is not required, and that deadline has passed (February 18, 2022). Applicants not submitting a concept paper will need to ensure concept paper requirements are included in the full application.

What are the program goals?

Applicants to the RISE grant programs must serve a region small enough to allow close collaboration among partners and include important elements of the region’s prioritized industry cluster. Check out USDA’s tool for determining the eligibility of specific addresses.

RISE grant funds may be used to:

• Build or support a business incubator facility;
• Provide worker training to assist in the creation of new jobs;
• Train the existing workforce with skills for higher-paying jobs; and
• Develop a base of skilled workers and improve their opportunities to obtain high-wage jobs in new or existing local industries.

The funder expects to award 10 grants with a total award amount between $500,000 and $2 million over a 48-month project period. The total available funding pool is approximately $10 million. Applications require a 4:1 match, with no more than 10% of funds applied to indirect costs.

What makes a project a good fit?

The USDA encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following Rural Development key priorities:

• Assisting rural communities (particularly disadvantaged communities) as they recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Promoting equitable access to rural development programs and benefits for all rural residents; and
• Reducing pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change in rural communities.

In addition, the USDA will also give priority to projects leveraging next-generation gigabit broadband service to promote entrepreneurship and entities based in geographical areas with established agriculture and technology sectors focused on the development of precision and autonomous agriculture technologies as a way to strengthen rural economies and create jobs.

What if I am ready to apply? To move your project forward, take the following action steps as soon as possible:

• Review the full RISE Federal Register Notice for additional details and review criteria;
• Explore the USDA’s frequently asked questions and resources document;
• Though not required, applicants may check with local state USDA offices to determine if there are additional local requirements or priorities; and
• Make sure your System for Award Management (SAM) registration is active and be sure you have a Grants.gov profile. You can check your SAM status here: https://sam.gov/content/status-tracker.

What if I need help with this application?

Contact Assel Grant Services (AGS) today! Our team can help with all aspects of preparing the application and managing the grant if you are awarded. If you would like to discuss this possibility, please contact AGS as soon as possible. Rosie Brennan, Community Engagement Specialist, will be happy to talk with you about this opportunity and provide you a quote for grant services.

What if I am not ready to apply this year?

Start preparing for next year! The USDA’s Rural Development office also has a variety of other programs and funding opportunities available that might be a good fit. The office’s website has ample resources and descriptions of available or upcoming opportunities.

How do I learn more about federal grant proposal writing, so my application is more likely to be successful?

AGS is excited to offer a Federal Grants Training Series in 2022! The series is designed to support nonprofit leaders before and during the application process. AGS also offers several on demand webinars on a variety of topics to support the full grant cycle. Check out our website to learn more and sign up for our training newsletter.

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Competency #1: Knowledge of how to research, identify, and match funding resources to meet specific needs

Skill 1.2: Identify major trends in public funding and public policy

Skill 1.6: Identify fundable programs and projects for specific organization

Skill 1.7: Determine best matches between funders and specific programs