The USDA Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant is designed to help rural communities build their economies through job acceleration programs and innovation centers to assist new and existing businesses.
Award requests can range from $500,000 – $2 million with a grant term of 4 years. RISE funds cannot be used for more than 80% of direct costs and must be matched with non-federal funds. Applications are due through Grants.gov by April 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET.
Eligibility
RISE fund are available to rural jobs accelerator partnerships with experience in economic and job training programs. Partnerships must have been formed on or after December 20, 2018.
Applicants
Partnership members may include:
- Public bodies
- State governments
- Tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations
- Institutions of higher education
Area
The region to be served by this project must be rural and primarily low-income. The USDA defines a rural area as any area other than
- A city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants
- The urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such a city or town, as defined by the U.S. Bureau of the Census using the latest decennial census of the United States.
The IRS defines a low-income community as having a poverty rate of at least 20%.
Allowable Expenses
Grant funds may be used on activities such as:
- Building or supporting a business incubator
- Construction or purchase of a building in which to establish an Innovation Center
- Support for programs to be carried out at such facilities
- Worker training for assistance with job creation
- Skills training for existing workforce to obtain higher paying jobs
No more than 10% of grant funds may be spent on indirect costs to administer the grant.
Key Priorities
Additional points may be awarded during the review process for projects that promote the key priorities of the USDA’s Rural Development Office.
- Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Justice
- Advancing Racial Justice, Place-Based Equity, and Opportunity
- Creating More and Better Market Opportunities
This is a great opportunity for entities that are based in rural areas which are economically vulnerable.
My appreciations to the administration and founders of this innovation.
May i know if Ugandan Non Governmental Organizations are eligible?
Thank you
USDA grants are only available in the United States