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.Apply for USDA RD HCFP PR RPN RCDI 2024
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Puerto Rico Rural Partners Network Rural Community Development Initiative?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by USDA Rural Development's Rural Housing Service (CFDA 10.446). The grant is structured as a technical assistance and training program focused on strengthening rural communities in Puerto Rico that are within areas covered by a Presidential major disaster declaration under the Stafford Act.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The central purpose is capacity building. The funding is intended to help rural communities and local nonprofits improve their ability to plan projects, compete for funding, and manage funding for activities that support housing, community facilities, and broader community and economic development outcomes.
Is this grant meant to directly build or construct a single project?
No. This opportunity is not primarily designed to fund construction of a single project directly. It is designed to fund the support system behind successful projects by paying for training, technical guidance, and limited financial support that helps communities and nonprofits develop stronger projects and execute them successfully once funded.
What agency administers the opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by USDA Rural Development's Rural Housing Service.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number is 10.446.
How does the intermediary model work in this program?
An eligible Puerto Rico-based organization applies as the Intermediary (the Grantee). If funded, the Intermediary must operate a program that provides financial assistance and hands-on technical assistance to Recipients. Those Recipients then deliver support and services to local communities (the Beneficiaries).
Who is the Intermediary (Grantee) in this program?
The Intermediary is the organization that applies to USDA and, if selected, receives the federal award. The Intermediary is responsible for running the program and delivering both financial assistance and technical assistance to Recipients within the eligible network areas.
Who are Recipients and Beneficiaries?
Recipients are the organizations that receive assistance from the Intermediary and then deliver support and services at the local level. Beneficiaries are the local communities that ultimately benefit from the Recipients' work.
What types of support is the grant intended to fund?
The grant is intended to fund technical assistance and training, along with limited financial assistance delivered through the Intermediary to Recipients, to strengthen project planning, application readiness, funding competitiveness, and project execution related to housing, community facilities, and community/economic development.
Who can apply as an eligible applicant?
The notice lists many eligible entity types, 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. However, additional eligibility constraints apply (such as location and experience requirements for the Intermediary).
Does the Intermediary have to be located in Puerto Rico?
Yes. A key requirement is that the Intermediary must be located in Puerto Rico.
Is there a minimum number of years an Intermediary must have been legally organized?
Yes. The Intermediary must have been legally organized for at least three years.
Is prior experience required for the Intermediary?
Yes. 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.
What geographic areas does the grant focus on?
The focus is rural Puerto Rico communities that fall within areas covered by a Presidential major disaster declaration under the Stafford Act.
Are there network-related geographic requirements for Recipients and Beneficiaries?
Yes. Recipients and Beneficiaries that receive assistance through the Intermediary must be located within the Puerto Rico Rural Partners Network (RPN) Community Networks.
What is the Puerto Rico Rural Partners Network (RPN) role in this opportunity?
Participation and geography tied to the Puerto Rico Rural Partners Network Community Networks are central requirements, because the program aims to strengthen organizations operating within these rural partner networks so they can better access and leverage federal funding.
How much funding is available per award?
Funding is capped at 250,000 dollars per intermediary (per award).
How many awards does USDA expect to make?
USDA anticipates making about 10 awards under this notice of funding opportunity.
When did the opportunity open and when was it originally due?
The opportunity opened in late May 2024, with an original closing date of June 28, 2024.
What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to improve?
The program targets stronger capacity and better outcomes in housing, community facilities, and broader community and economic development, especially in disaster-declared rural areas where capacity gaps can make it harder to compete for funding and deliver projects on time and within scope.
What problem is the grant trying to address in disaster-impacted rural areas?
It is meant to address capacity gaps that often make it difficult for rural organizations and communities to develop competitive applications, win funding, and successfully manage and complete projects in disaster-impacted areas.
What is the expected flow of federal funds and support?
The award is intended to flow through an experienced Puerto Rico-based organization (the Intermediary) that can train, coach, and resource smaller community groups (Recipients) so they can support their communities (Beneficiaries) more effectively.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA RD HCFP PR RPN RCDI 2024) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Apply for USDA RD CFTAT 2024 Funding Number: USDA RD CFTAT 2024 Agency: Rural Housing Service Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Apply for USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2024 Funding Number: USDA RD HCFP RCDI 2024 Agency: Rural Housing Service Category: Agriculture, Community Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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