Together, America Prospers

Strategic Economic and Community Development

What does this 

program do?

Using reserve funding from 

specific, covered USDA Rural 

Development programs, Strategic 

Economic and Community 

Development (SECD) supports 

eligible projects in implementing 

strategic community investment 

plans. Created by local 

stakeholders, these plans 

help build rural prosperity by 

amplifying a community’ s unique 

strengths. 

We also can help you identify 

additional resources, organize 

and convene potential partners, 

and leverage other federal, state, 

local and private funding.

The following USDA Rural 

Development programs support 

SECD funding:

• Community Facilities Direct

Loan Program – available at

this link: tinyurl.com/42nkyyct

• Community Facilities

Guaranteed Loan Program -

available at this link:

tinyurl.com/yvdhzuuj

• Water and Waste Disposal

Loan and Grant Program –

available at this link:

tinyurl.com/yetr8dc7

• Water and Waste Disposal

Loan Guarantees – available

at this link:

tinyurl.com/5xrceb88

• Rural Business Development

Grants – available at this link:

tinyurl.com/mcwu7u9y

Who can apply?

To be eligible for SECD funding, your 

project must:

• Be eligible for a covered USDA Rural

Development program

• Be carried out in a rural area

• Support a multijurisdictional and

multisectoral strategic community

investment plan

To apply, you must meet all program 

requirements for the associated SECDcovered USDA Rural Development 

program. You also must submit RD 

Form 1980-88 (available at this link: 

tinyurl.com/y3f65upf - PDF) to your 

nearest USDA Rural Development 

office. 

If you are applying for SECD 

funding through a covered USDA RD 

loan guarantee program, you can 

submit your forms using the OneRD 

Guarantee Loan Initiative application 

available at this link: 

tinyurl.com/bp8rww6w).

What are some application 

considerations?

Among other things, when reviewing 

your application, we will assess how 

well your project:

• Supports a multijurisdictional,

multisectoral plan

• Shows evidence of collaboration

among multiple stakeholders

• Acknowledges regional resources

• Identifies strategic partners’

monetary and nonmonetary

investments, including private and

philanthropic organizations and

non-USDA funding sources

• Presents a rural vision and

articulates clear objectives, including

implementation action steps and

measurable performance metrics

How do we get started? 

Each participating USDA RD-covered 

programs has different deadlines for 

application receipt. Be sure follow 

program guidelines carefully.

Contact your state-based USDA Rural 

Development office for a plan review 

before submitting your application. A 

list of state offices is available at this 

link: tinyurl.com/ytjhaa2x.

Who can answer questions?

Your state-based USDA Rural 

Development office can answer 

SECD-covered program questions. 

See the link above under “How do 

we get started?” You also can reach 

the SECD staff at this email address: 

rd.secd@usda.gov.

What governs this program?

SECD is authorized by Section 6401 

of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 

2018 (PL 115 – 334, available at this 

link: tinyurl.com/243tpcwm)

NOTE: Because information changes, always consult official program instructions 

or contact your local Rural Development office for help. A list is available at this link: 

go.usa.gov/xJHPE. You will find additional resources, forms, and program information 

at rd.usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Last revised April 2024