What does this program do?
This program provides grants to repair essential community facilities in rural areas that were damaged by Presidentially Declared Disasters in Calendar Year 2022 or to repair or replace essential community facilities damaged by Presidentially Declared Disasters in CY 2023 and Other Disasters in CY 2023. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.
Who can apply?
- Public bodies
- Community-based nonprofit organizations
- Federally recognized Tribes
What is an eligible area?
Rural areas including cities, villages, townships and towns including Federally Recognized Tribal Lands with no more than 20,000 residents according to the latest U.S. Census Data are eligible for this program.
For the most current list of Presidentially Declared Disasters, visit the United States (U.S.) Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website. Major disaster declarations, emergency declarations, and fire management declarations are all eligible for this program.
What is an eligible disaster?
Eligible 2022 Disasters are disasters that occurred in CY 2022 for which a declaration was made by the President in accordance with applicable statutes that a disaster occurred, necessitating assistance in the recovery of the impacted area.
Eligible 2023 Disasters are:
(i) Disasters that occurred in CY 2023 for which a declaration was made by the President in accordance with applicable statutes that a disaster occurred, necessitating assistance in the recovery of the impacted area; or
(ii) Other Disasters: Events that occurred in CY 2023 that were caused by a natural catastrophe, technological accident, or human-caused event that results in severe property damage, deaths, multiple injuries, and/or severe environmental harm for which:
- there was a declaration of a disaster or public health emergency by a local, state, or Tribal government in accordance with applicable law;
- there was a Presidential Executive Order related to the disaster; or
- there was a multi agency response effort at the Federal and/or Tribal level was undertaken to address the impact of the disaster.
How can funds be used?
Grant funds must be used to repair essential community facilities damaged by Eligible 2022 Disasters, or to repair or replace essential community facilities damaged by Eligible 2023 Disasters, including the replacement of damaged equipment or vehicles and/or the purchase of new equipment to undertake repairs to damaged facilities.
Examples of essential community facilities include:
- Health care facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes or assisted living facilities
- Public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, streets, public works vehicles or equipment
- Community support services such as child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds or transitional housing
- Public safety services such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, police vehicles, or fire trucks
- Educational services such as museums, libraries, or schools
- Utility services such as telemedicine or distance learning equipment
- Local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs, or greenhouses
For more information on Community Facilities Program Grants see Code of Federal Regulations see 7 CFR, Part 3570.62.
For more information on Community Facilities Disaster Grants see Announcement of the Availability of Community Facilities Program Disaster Grants.
What kinds of funding are available?
The Community Facilities Program Disaster Grant may fund up to 75 percent of total project cost. Funding for the balance of the project may consist of applicant contributions, loans and grants from other sources, or other Community Facilities financial assistance including the Community Facilities Direct Loan as well as the loan guarantee program if all eligibility and feasibility requirements are met.
Grant Approval:
Applications will be reviewed in accordance Announcement of the Availability of Community Facilities Program Disaster Grants. RD will conduct an initial review and rating of preapplications and complete applications received by 4:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, September 12, 2024. If at any time the demand for grant funds is greater than the amount of grant funds available, a priority ranking scoring system will be used to determine which projects are funded based on the funds available.
For more information check out the grant listing.