Together, America Prospers

USDA Rural Development 

Institutions of Higher Education 

Funding and Resource Guide
Together, America Prospers

American Institutions of Higher Education are essential to vitality, sustainability, and progress in our communities. These schools 

– which include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, 

Minority-Serving Institutions, community colleges, institutes of technology, and vocational-technical schools – understand their local 

communities’ needs. Most are located close to where their students live and work, and many are in rural areas. This presents USDA 

Rural Development a unique opportunity to partner with – and support – these valuable institutions.

Finding – and understanding how to apply for and use – federal resources can be challenging. This guide is designed to help rural 

Institutions of Higher Education find low-interest financing and grants to build or improve their facilities, infrastructure, equipment, 

and educational programs.

Because information changes, always consult 

official program instructions or contact your local 

Rural Development office for help. 

A list is available at this link:

https://go.usa.gov/xJHPE. 

You will find additional resources, forms, and 

program information at https://rd.usda.gov.

A note about website links: For ease of reference, 

this guide provides links to relevant, useful 

information hosted outside the USDA domain. 

Federal endorsement of non-USDA programs or 

activities is neither intended nor implied. Please 

be aware that, when you access information 

through a link provided in this document, you are 

subject to the copyright and licensing restrictions 

of those sites. All links in this document were 

active as of February 2023.

NOTE:

Introduction
3 | USDA Rural Development Institutions of Higher Education Funding and Resource Guide

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Program name and link Overview Who can apply? How to apply

Community Facilities 

Direct Loans and Grants

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzDvz

Community Facilities 

Loan Guarantees

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzDw7

These programs help finance 

construction of – or improvements to 

– essential community facilities such 

as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, 

certain schools, child care centers, 

libraries, and town halls, among others. 

Funds also can be used to purchase 

necessary equipment and pay for 

related project expenses. Although CF 

program funds cannot support private, 

commercial, or business undertakings, 

in some instances, loans and grants 

can be combined with commercial 

financing to support a project.

Eligible applicants include government 

organizations, community-based 

nonprofit corporations, and federallyrecognized Tribes. Direct loans and 

grants are available in rural areas with 

populations of 20,000 or fewer. Loan 

guarantees are available in rural areas 

with populations of 50,000 or fewer.

Lenders interested in learning more 

about the loan guarantee program can 

contact the USDA Rural Development 

Community Programs director in the 

state in which the proposed project is 

located. You’ll find a state-based list 

at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xShSz. 

Applications are accepted year-round 

in our local offices.

3 | USDA Rural Development Institutions of Higher Education Funding and Resource Guide
4 | USDA Rural Development Institutions of Higher Education Funding and Resource Guide

Community Programs

Program name and link Overview Who can apply? How to apply

Rural Community Development 

Initiative Grants

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzD7M

This competitive program helps 

nonprofit housing and community 

development organizations, lowerincome rural communities, and 

federally-recognized Tribes support 

housing, essential community facilities, 

and economic development in rural 

areas. Examples of things grant 

funds can cover include training subgrantees to conduct homeownership 

or minority business entrepreneur 

education, providing technical 

assistance to sub-grantees on strategic 

plan development, researching and 

identifying alternative funding sources, 

preparing boards of directors, and 

creating training tools such as videos, 

workbooks or reference guides. Grants 

range from $50,000 - $250,000, and 

there is a matching fund requirement 

equal to the amount of the grant award.

Eligible applicants include government 

organizations, nonprofit organizations, 

and certain private, for-profit 

organizations in rural areas. For the 

purposes of this program, “rural area” 

is defined as any area other than a 

city or town with a population greater 

than 50,000, and the urbanized area 

neighboring it.

Applications are accepted annually 

through a Notice of Funding Availability 

(NOFA) published in the Federal 

Register (available at this link: 

https://www.federalregister.gov/). 

Contact your local USDA Rural 

Development Community Programs 

team for more information. You’ll find 

a state-based list at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xShSz.

Tribal College Initiative Grants

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzD7S

This program provides funding to 

1994 Land Grant Institutions (Tribal 

Colleges – information is available at 

this link: https://go.usa.gov/xhczq) 

to make capital improvements to 

educational facilities. Funds can be 

used for infrastructure development 

or upgrades, along with equipment 

purchases for schools, libraries, and 

dormitories. Funding also can support 

educational and cultural projects.

TCIGs are open only to Tribal 

Colleges listed in Section 7402 of the 

Agricultural Act of 2014 (available at 

this link: https://go.usa.gov/xzDAK

- PDF) Grants of up to $250,000 for 

each Tribal land grant institution are 

available, and funds can be used to 

pay up to 95 percent of project costs. 

A five percent match is required, 

and partnerships with other federal, 

state, local, private, and nonprofit 

organizations are encouraged.

Applications are accepted year-round 

in your local USDA Rural Development 

office. You’ll find a state-based list at 

this link: https://go.usa.gov/xShSz.
5 | USDA Rural Development Institutions of Higher Education Funding and Resource Guide

Program name and link Overview Who can apply? How to apply

Advanced Biofuel Payment Program

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzDUX

The ABPP increases production of 

advanced biofuels through quarterly 

payments to eligible producers. This 

program helps increase American 

energy independence and the privatesector supply of renewable energy.

The program is open to advanced 

biofuels producers and sellers, 

including individuals, corporations, 

companies, foundations, associations, 

governments, and schools, among 

others. Buyers and sellers must act 

independently, and have no relationship 

to each other. Eligible advanced 

biofuels must be:

• A liquid, gas, or solid

• Derived from renewable biomass, 

other than corn kernel starch

• A final (finished) product

• Produced in the United States

Applications are accepted annually. For 

more information, contact your state’s 

USDA Rural Development Energy 

Coordinator. A list of coordinators can 

be found at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xtBaj.

RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE 

PROGRAMS

NOTE: A producer that combines 

advanced biofuels into a blended 

biofuel is not considered an advanced

biofuel producer under this program. 

You’ll find the formal definition of 

“advanced biofuel” at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xh3ND.
6 | USDA Rural Development Institutions of Higher Education Funding and Resource Guide

Rural Business-Cooperative Service Programs

Program name and link Overview Who can apply? How to apply

Agriculture Innovation Center 

Program

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzDXm

The AICP awards technical assistance 

grants to eligible agriculture innovation 

centers to help develop and market 

value-added agricultural products. 

Funds can be used for:

• Agriculture Innovation Center 

operations

• Business development, such as 

creating feasibility studies and 

business plans

• Marketing plans and branding

• Financial advisory services and 

preparing financial statements

• Process development, engineering 

services, scale production 

assessments, and systems 

development

• Organizational assistance, and legal 

and technical advisory services

• Connecting agricultural producers 

to a distribution system, processing 

facility, or commercial kitchen

• Product development such as 

concept testing, feasibility and cost 

analysis, product taste-testing, 

consumer and production analysis, 

or evaluation of packaging and 

labeling options

This program is open to government 

organizations, federally-recognized 

Tribes, institutions of higher education, 

and non- or for-profit organizations and 

corporations. There are no population 

or location restrictions.

To learn more or to apply, contact the 

USDA Rural Development office in the 

state in which your project or program 

is located. You’ll find a state-based list 

at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xShSz.
7 | USDA Rural Development Institutions of Higher Education Funding and Resource Guide

Rural Business-Cooperative Service Programs

Program name and link Overview Who can apply? How to apply

Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, 

and Biobased Product Manufacturing 

Assistance (Section 9003) Program

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzDUw

This program provides loan guarantees 

up to $250 million to develop, build, 

or retrofit facilities to support new 

and emerging technologies, and 

produce advanced biofuels, renewable 

chemicals, and biobased products. 

Projects must be in a U.S. state 

or territory. The maximum federal 

participation (encompassing all federal 

loans or grants) is 80 percent of all 

eligible project costs. The borrower and 

other involved principals must make 

a significant cash equity contribution 

investment.

The program is open to individuals, 

federally-recognized Tribes, state and 

local governments, farm cooperatives, 

associations of agricultural producers, 

national laboratories, institutions of 

higher education, rural electric co-ops, 

public power organizations, credit 

unions examined or supervised by a 

state agency or the National Credit 

Union Administration, or combined 

groups of any of the above.

Applications are accepted biannually. To learn more, email 

EnergyPrograms@rd.usda.gov and 

mention the Section 9003 Program in 

your subject line.

Intermediary Relending Program

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzDXs

This program provides 1 percent loans 

to local lenders (“intermediaries”) that 

then re-lend to businesses to improve 

economic conditions and create jobs 

in rural communities. Funds can be 

used to finance rural businesses and 

community development projects. 

The maximum loan to borrowers is 

$400,000.

This program is open to government 

organizations, nonprofit corporations, 

federally-recognized Tribes, and 

cooperatives located in rural areas with 

populations of 50,000 or fewer.

Applications are accepted quarterly 

in our local offices. You’ll find a statebased list at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xShSz.

Rural Business Development Grants

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzDXt

These grants fund public economic 

development activities to help small 

and emerging private businesses and 

nonprofits in rural communities start 

or expand. Among other things, funds 

can be used to purchase or develop 

land, buildings, and equipment; to 

cover costs for feasibility studies and 

business plans and provide other 

technical assistance; to improve rural 

transportation, establish revolving 

loan funds, and support rural distance 

learning programs that provide 

educational or job training.

This program is open to towns, 

communities, state agencies, 

nonprofits, institutions of higher 

education, federally-recognized Tribes 

and rural cooperatives, among others. 

Rural Business Development Grant 

money must be used for projects that 

benefit rural areas outside of cities 

with populations of 50,000 or more. You 

can check to see if your area is eligible 

at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xz7kz.

Applications are accepted annually 

through USDA Rural Development’s 

local or state offices. You’ll find a statebased list at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xShSz.
8 | USDA Rural Development Institutions of Higher Education Funding and Resource Guide

Rural Business-Cooperative Service Programs

Program name and link Overview Who can apply? How to apply

Rural Cooperative Development 

Grants

Information is available at this link: 

https://tinyurl.com/5dy55j35

This program helps establish and 

operate cooperative development 

centers. Among other things, 

cooperative development centers 

provide technical assistance, conduct 

feasibility studies, develop business 

plans, provide training, and facilitate 

strategic planning.

Centers can be in any area, as long as 

they serve areas with populations of 

50,000 or fewer.

Applications are accepted annually 

at grants.gov (available at this link: 

https://www.grants.gov).

Rural Energy for America Program 

Energy Audits and Renewable 

Energy Development Grants

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzDwc

REAP provides technical and 

renewable energy assistance to rural 

small businesses and agricultural 

producers. Grants of up to $100,000 

can be used for energy audits and 

renewable energy development. This 

program helps strengthen American 

energy independence by increasing 

the private-sector supply of renewable 

energy. Over time, these investments 

can also help lower energy costs for 

small businesses and agricultural 

producers. Our energy grants help 

heat homes, power cars, and run 

businesses with renewable energy from 

wind, solar, and biofuels.

The program is open to state and local 

governments, federally-recognized 

Tribes, land-grant universities and other 

institutions of higher education, rural 

electric cooperatives, public power 

entities, and resource conservation 

and development councils. Businesses 

must be in rural areas with populations 

fewer than 50,000. You can check to 

see if your area is eligible at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xz7kz. 

NOTE: Population restrictions do not 

apply to agricultural producers.

Applications are accepted year-round 

at our local offices. You’ll find a statebased list at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xShSz.

Rural Innovation Stronger Economy 

(RISE) Grants

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzD5b

RISE Grants help create and augment 

high-wage jobs and accelerate the 

formation of new businesses. They also 

support industry clusters and maximize 

the use of local assets in eligible, 

lower-income rural areas. Grants can 

be used to build or support a business 

incubator facility, provide training, and 

improve opportunities for workers to get 

high-wage jobs in new or existing local 

industries. Grants range from $500,000 

- $2 million with a four-year-term.

This program is open to rural jobs 

accelerator partnerships with 

expertise delivering economic and 

job training programs. To qualify, you 

must be a government organization, 

nonprofit organization, state, Tribe, 

or institution of higher education that 

serves a rural region small enough 

to allow close collaboration among 

partners. Your RISE project also must 

include important elements of your 

region’s prioritized industry cluster 

(concentrations of related industries).

Applications are accepted annually 

at grants.gov (available at this link: 

https://www.grants.gov).
9 | USDA Rural Development Institutions of Higher Education Funding and Resource Guide

Rural Business-Cooperative Service Programs

Program name and link Overview Who can apply? How to apply

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance 

Program

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzD5Z

The RMAP helps establish revolving 

microloans for small, rural businesses. 

Funds can be used to start and grow 

microenterprises, and to provide 

training and technical assistance 

to microloan borrowers and 

microentrepreneurs. Loan uses include 

working capital, debt refinancing, 

equipment and supplies, and real 

estate improvements.

This program is open to nonprofits, 

federally-recognized Tribes, and 

institutions of higher education in rural 

areas except cities with populations 

greater than 50,000, and their 

neighboring urbanized areas.

Applications are accepted year-round 

in our local offices. You’ll find a statebased list at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xShSz.

Rural Placemaking Innovation 

Challenge Program

Information is available at this link: 

https://tinyurl.com/mr2h6xs6

This initiative provides planning 

support, technical assistance, and 

training to encourage placemaking 

activities in rural communities. Funds 

can be used to help build capacity 

for broadband access, preserve 

cultural and historic structures, and 

support the development of housing, 

transportation, and recreational 

spaces. Up to $4 million in RPIC 

funding is available, with a maximum 

grant award of $250,000.

This program is open to federallyrecognized Tribes and Tribal 

organizations, institutions of higher 

learning such as Land-Grant Colleges 

and Universities (1862, 1890, and 

1994), Historically Black Colleges and 

Universities, and Hispanic-Serving 

Institutions, among others. Nonprofit 

organizations, government agencies, 

and small, private businesses that meet 

size standards established by the U.S. 

Small Business Administration also are 

eligible to apply. Planning must directly 

benefit cities or towns with populations 

of 50,000 or fewer.

You must use grants.gov to apply. 

You can find the RPIC application by 

entering Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CDFA) number 10.890 

in the CDFA drop-down menu under 

“Basic Search Criteria” located at the 

top left of the grants.gov webpage, 

available at https://go.usa.gov/xJf9j. 

For more information, email 

RD.RPIC@usda.gov.
10 | USDA Rural Development Institutions of Higher Education Funding and Resource Guide

RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE PROGRAMS

Program name and link Overview Who can apply? How to apply

Community Connect Grants

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzWYZ

This program offers financial assistance 

to eligible applicants to provide 

broadband service in economicallychallenged rural areas where service 

does not exist. Funds can be used to 

build broadband infrastructure to serve 

residential and business customers in a 

proposed funded service area (PFSA), 

and to establish a community center to 

provide free public broadband access 

for at least two years.

Eligible applicants include incorporated 

organizations, federally-recognized 

Tribes, state and local governments, 

cooperatives, private corporations, 

and for- or nonprofit, limited liability 

companies in rural areas without 

broadband speeds of at least 

10 Megabits per second (Mbps) 

downstream, and 1 Mbps upstream.

Application windows for this program 

are announced on a periodic basis. 

To learn more, email 

community.connect@usda.gov.
11 | USDA Rural Development Institutions of Higher Education Funding and Resource Guide

Rural Utilities Service Programs

Program name and link Overview Who can apply? How to apply

Distance Learning and Telemedicine 

Grants

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzWYU

This competitive program helps 

rural communities use advanced 

telecommunications technology to 

connect to each other – and the world 

– overcoming the effects of remoteness 

and low population density. Funds can 

be used to buy end-user equipment 

(such as interactive video or audio 

hardware, computer hardware, network 

components, and software, or similar 

infrastructure) used to deliver distance 

learning and telemedicine services 

in eligible areas. Funds also can 

pay for certain types of instructional 

programming or technical assistance 

and training. You will find a map of 

recently-funded DLT projects at this 

link: https://tinyurl.com/buw48ajt.

Eligible applicants include most state 

and local government organizations, 

federally-recognized Tribes, forprofit businesses, and nonprofit 

organizations. Groups of eligible 

organizations also can apply together. 

DLT grants require a minimum 15 

percent match that can’t come from 

other federal sources.

Applications are accepted on 

grants.gov during an announced 

application window. To learn more, 

email dltinfo@usda.gov or contact 

the Telecommunications General Field 

Representative in the state in which 

your proposed project is located. A 

state-based list is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xhrux.
12 | USDA Rural Development Institutions of Higher Education Funding and Resource Guide

Rural Utilities Service Programs

Program name and link Overview Who can apply? How to apply

ReConnect Loans and Grants

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzW4Y

This program offers loans, grants, and 

loan-grant combinations to eligible 

recipients to get fixed, terrestrial 

broadband to areas of rural America 

that currently lack sufficient access. 

Funds can be used to build, improve, 

or acquire existing broadband and 

terrestrial satellite broadband facilities 

and equipment. Reasonable preapplication expenses also can be 

covered. Loan funding (100 percent 

loan requests, only) also can support 

the acquisition of an existing system 

that provides insufficient broadband 

access. The minimum request 

for funding across all ReConnect 

categories is $100,000. A 100 percent 

grant requires a 25 percent cash 

match. The 50-50 loan and grant 

combination interest rate is set by 

the U.S. Treasury at the time of each 

advance of funds. A 100 percent 

loan has a fixed interest rate of 2 

percent. A 100 percent grant for Tribal 

governments and socially-vulnerable 

communities does not require a cash 

match.

Eligible applicants include 

corporations, limited liability companies 

and limited liability partnerships, 

cooperatives or mutual associations, 

state or local government organizations, 

territories or possessions of the U.S., 

and federally-recognized Tribes. For 

a geographic area to be eligible, it 

must be rural, and 90 percent of the 

households in the area must lack 

sufficient access to broadband service.

Applications are accepted only through 

USDA Rural Development’s online 

application system. Forms and other 

application resources are available at 

this link: https://go.usa.gov/xhYc8. For 

questions, use the fillable “contact us” 

tab available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xhYcU. Or, you 

can contact the Telecommunications 

General Field Representative in the 

state in which your proposed project is 

located. A state-based list is available 

at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xhrux.
13 | USDA Rural Development Institutions of Higher Education Funding and Resource Guide

Rural Utilities Service Programs

Program name and link Overview Who can apply? How to apply

Solid Waste Management Grants

Information is available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xzBE7

This program helps reduce or eliminate 

water pollution by providing funding 

to eligible organizations that provide 

technical assistance and training to 

improve the planning and management 

of solid waste sites. Funds can be used 

to evaluate current landfill conditions 

to identify threats to water resources, 

and provide technical assistance and 

training on the operation, maintenance, 

closure and future use of landfills.

This program is open to government 

organizations, private organizations, 

nonprofit organizations, federallyrecognized Tribes, and academic 

institutions that serve rural areas with 

populations of 10,000 or fewer. Check 

to see if your area is eligible at this 

link: https://go.usa.gov/xz7kz. Special 

consideration is given to projects 

serving areas with fewer than 5,500 or 

2,500 residents; to regional, multistate, 

or national areas, and to lower-income 

populations.

Applications are accepted annually 

at grants.gov (available at this link: 

https://www.grants.gov).

 Additional Resources

Sustainable Management Tools (A collaboration between USDA and the U.S. EPA) 

Information is available at this link: https://tinyurl.com/2nh9f2be

This webpage offers “Workshop in a Box” resources for rural and small utility systems to 

develop or improve system management.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and 

employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are 

prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, 

gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, 

marital status, family or parental status, income derived from a public assistance 

program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in 

any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all 

programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary. Those with disabilities 

who need alternative means of communication (for example, Braille, large 

print, audiotape, and American Sign Language, among others) can contact the 

responsible agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY), 

or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Program 

information also can be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program 

Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, available at this link: https://go.usa.

gov/xzzfW, and at any USDA office. Or, write a letter addressed to USDA and 

provide all of the information requested in the form. Call (866) 632-9992 to 

request a copy of the complaint form. Submit your completed form or letter to 

USDA by: (1) postal mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 

20250-9410 (2) fax: (202) 690-7442, or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. 

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

March 2023

RD-22008