Community Facilities Program Disaster Grants

Surabhi Dabir
202.578.9315
Surabhi.dabir@usda.gov

USDA state offices

USDA offers grants to repair essential community facilities in rural areas that were damaged by Presidentially Declared Disasters in calendar year 2022 or 2023. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community. It does not include private, commercial, or business undertakings.

In addition to repairs, funding may be used to replace damaged equipment or vehicles, and to purchase new equipment to undertake repairs to damaged facilities.

Examples of essential community facilities include:

• Healthcare facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities
• Public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, streets, public works vehicles, and equipment
• Community support services such as child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds, and transitional housing
• Public safety services such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, police vehicles, and fire trucks
• Educational services such as museums, libraries, and schools
• Utility services such as telemedicine and distance learning equipment
• Local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs, and greenhouses

Priorities include:

• Assisting rural communities recovering economically through market opportunities and improved infrastructure
• Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development (RD) programs and benefits from RD funded projects
• Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities
• Small communities with a population of 5,000 or less
• Low-income communities having a median household income below the higher of the poverty line or 90% or below of the state nonmetropolitan median household income
• Projects address public safety
• The project is consistent with, and is reflected in, the state strategic plan
• Project addresses a declared public health emergency by a local, state, or tribal government in accordance with applicable law

Eligible applicants include:

• Public bodies
• Community-based nonprofit organizations
• Federally recognized tribes

There is no minimum or maximum award amount. Grants may cover up to 75% of the total project cost.

Select the state in the dropdown menu on the program website. This will provide state-specific contact and application information. Contact a Community Programs Specialist about the proposed project and to get started with the application process.

According to a Federal Register notice on 7/29/2024, applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until funds are expended.