CORE

Creating Opportunities through Rural Engagement

USDA Rural Development (RD) is committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in rural 

America. We offer grants, technical assistance programs, loans and loan guarantees that help create 

jobs and support economic development. Through CORE, RD's extensive field network is actively 

engaging local leaders, residents, business owners and other stakeholders in underserved communities. 

Our goal is to better identify, understand and address the barriers they face to participating in USDA RD 

and partner programs.

USDA Rural Development Key Priorities

CORE addresses USDA RD key priorities by: 

• Building lasting relationships with underserved rural and Tribal communities to build brighter

futures in rural America

• Connecting business owners to new markets

• Helping empower people with resilient and sustainable infrastructure

• Creating equitable access and opportunities for generations to come

Together, America Prospers

Creating more and better market opportunities

Addressing climate change and environmental justice

Advancing racial justice, place-based equity, and opportunity
CORE Advances USDA 

Rural Development's 

Vision

We invest in rural America with loan, grant,

and loan guarantee programs because we

understand a strong community is rooted in its

people. The commitment and resources we

bring to rural communities helps drive

economic security and prosperity. USDA RD is 

committed to ensuring that the investments we

make and the assistance we offer are

available – fairly and intentionally – to all 

eligible rural and Tribal communities. We

support rural America by ensuring communities

have the right tools and resources to achieve

economic security and prosperity.

Through CORE, USDA RD engages 

underserved rural and Tribal communities and 

connects them to the resources they need, 

including other federal agencies and entities 

through the USDA Rural Partners Network.

CORE Objectives and 

Accomplishments

• In November 2021, USDA RD initiated

Creating Opportunities through Rural

Engagement (CORE) to ensure all eligible

areas, groups, and residents have

equitable access to our programs and can

benefit from USDA RD-funded projects.

• CORE uses data sets to identify

socially vulnerable, distressed and

underserved rural communities

across the nation.

More than 13,000 census tracts or zip 

codes have been identified for 

engagement through CORE.

• An emphasis is placed on communities

which have not participated in USDA RD

programs in recent years.

• As of April 2024, nearly 700 CORE

communities have been engaged and

more than $430 million in new RD

investments have been made in CORE

communities.

The CORE Process

CORE’s process is built on three main phases:

• Phase 1: Engaging with underserved

communities by identifying communities

with which to work, connecting with

community stakeholders, and documenting

needs and barriers to programs and

potential projects.

• Phase 2: Identifying opportunities to assist

underserved communities by reviewing the

needs and barriers communicated, identifying

opportunities to assist with these needs and

barriers, and actively assisting CORE

communities by connecting them with

resources and partners that can help.

• Phase 3: Documenting investments and

support resulting from connecting

underserved communities with USDA RD

resources, technical assistance

opportunities, and local, state, and federal

partners.

For more information, you can email the CORE 

support team at sm.rd.core@usda.gov. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

April 2024