The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $21 million next fiscal year in water conservation and drought resilience projects in 13 Western states through the WaterSMART initiative. Farmers, ranchers and communities in Western states continue to face significant drought-related challenges. WaterSMART is a collaboration between the Natural Resources Conservation Service … [Read more...]
US launches $16M community-led clean energy initiative
The U.S. Department of Energy on Sept. 15 launched a pilot program that aims to help up to 36 communities transition to clean energy, improve local environments and create jobs. The Communities: Local Energy Action Program, or Communities LEAP, will provide $16 million in support services to low-income communities with ties to fossil fuel industries or environmental hazards. … [Read more...]
Farmers, ranchers and rural businesses: Shape future USDA grant funding
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is calling for feedback on its $76 million Value-Added Producer Grant Program, which provides funding for rural businesses, ranchers and farmers to grow their income by developing and marketing new products. The program hosts a national competition to award $75,000 planning grants and $250,000 working capital grants to independent … [Read more...]
Help the USDA improve funding for rural co-ops
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is soliciting feedback on how to better award grants to launch, grow and enhance cooperatives in rural areas. Specifically, the department wants to know how it can improve the application process, eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria for its Rural Cooperative Development Grant program. The RCDG program hosts a national … [Read more...]
USDA seeks input on $7.4M grant program for farmers and rural businesses
The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to know how its Agriculture Innovation Center Program can better support farmers and rural businesses that sell value-added agricultural products, such as ethanol, jam, flour, or beef jerky. The USDA Agricultural Innovation Center Program was created to stimulate economic development in rural areas by supporting producers of … [Read more...]