Puerto Rico Rural Partners Network Rural Community Development Initiative | USDA RD HCFP PR RPN RCDI 2024

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA RD HCFP PR RPN RCDI 2024

The Puerto Rico Rural Partners Network Rural Community Development Initiative is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by USDA Rural Development's Rural Housing Service (CFDA 10.446). It is structured as a technical assistance and training grant aimed specifically at strengthening rural Puerto Rico communities that fall within areas covered by a Presidential major disaster declaration under the Stafford Act. The central purpose is capacity building: helping rural communities and local nonprofits become better prepared to plan, compete for, and manage funding for projects that improve housing, community facilities, and broader community and economic development outcomes.

The program uses an intermediary model. An eligible organization based in Puerto Rico applies as the Intermediary (the Grantee) and, if funded, must run a program that provides both financial assistance and hands-on technical assistance to Recipients. Those Recipients then deliver support and services to their local communities, referred to as Beneficiaries. In practical terms, the federal award is meant to flow through an experienced Puerto Rico-based organization that can train, coach, and resource smaller community groups so they can develop stronger projects, submit more competitive funding applications, and successfully complete projects once funded.

Funding is capped at 250,000 dollars per intermediary, and USDA anticipates making about 10 awards under this notice of funding opportunity. The opportunity opened in late May 2024, with an original closing date of June 28, 2024. While many types of entities are listed as eligible applicants, including various levels of government, tribal entities, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), public housing authorities, institutions of higher education, and certain for-profit entities including small businesses, the program adds key eligibility constraints tied to place and experience. The Intermediary must be located in Puerto Rico and must have been legally organized for at least three years. In addition, the Intermediary must demonstrate at least three years of prior experience working with private nonprofit community-based housing and development organizations, low-income rural communities, or tribal organizations on housing, community facilities, or community and economic development efforts.

Geography and network participation are also central requirements. The Recipients and Beneficiaries that ultimately receive assistance through the intermediary must be located within the Puerto Rico Rural Partners Network (RPN) Community Networks. The overall aim is to help organizations within these rural partner networks access and leverage federal funding to address persistent community and economic challenges, particularly in disaster-declared rural areas where capacity gaps often make it harder to compete for funds and deliver projects on time and within scope.

In short, this grant is not primarily for constructing a single project directly; it is designed to fund the support system behind successful projects. It backs Puerto Rico-based intermediaries that can provide training, technical guidance, and limited financial support so rural nonprofits and communities can strengthen planning, application readiness, and project execution for housing, facilities, and economic development initiatives in disaster-impacted rural Puerto Rico.

• The Rural Housing Service in the agriculture, community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Puerto Rico Rural Partners Network Rural Community Development Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.446.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for USDA RD HCFP PR RPN RCDI 2024

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