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Rural Development is committed to helping faith and community organizations learn about and access programs that can enhance their capacity to serve their community.

This toolkit offers a one-stop shop for organizations interested in applying for Rural Development programs and includes supplemental resources, legal guidance for faith and community groups and contact information for the Faith-Based and Community Initiative Office and liaisons at USDA:

Rural Development Programs
Rural Development Faith-Based and Community Initiative Contacts
Supplemental Resources
Did You Know ...
Related Links
Legal Documents and Guidance

Rural Development Programs

• Community Facilities Direct Loans, Guaranteed Loans and Grants
  Provides funding for essential community facilities such as town halls, day care centers, and fire stations.
  
• The Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)
  Provides technical assistance to recipients to development or increase their capacity to undertake housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas.
• Rural Rental Housing Loans
  Provides affordable multi-family housing for very low, low, and moderate-income persons, including families, elderly and persons with disabilities.
  
• Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Loans
  Provides loan guarantees by other lenders for affordable multi-family housing development.
  
• Farm Labor Housing Loans and Grants
  Provides decent, safe, and sanitary low-rent housing for domestic farm labor, on and off-farm site.
  
• Rental Assistance
  Provides funding to existing and newly constructed Rural Rental Housing- or Farm Labor Housing-financed complexes to subsidize tenant rent.
  
• Housing Preservation Grants
  Provides funding to sponsoring organizations to provide for home repair and rehabilitation of low-and very low-income housing.
  
• Technical and Supervisory Assistance Grants
  Provides funding to organizations to provide support for counseling and housing delivery programs.
  
• Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants
  Provides funding to organizations to support innovative efforts that empower low-income individuals and families to build their own homes.
  
• Distance Learning and Telemedicine Technical Assistance Grants
  Provides funding to eligible organizations to provide enhanced learning and health care opportunities for rural residents.
• Rural Business Enterprise Grants
  Finance and facilitate development of small and emerging private business enterprises. Public bodies, private non-profit corporations and federally recognized Indian tribes receive the grant to assist a business. Grant funds do not go directly to the business.

Rural Development Faith-Based and Community Initiative Contacts

• Rural Development National and Local FBCI Coordinators (PDF)
  
• Rural Development State Offices

Supplemental Resources

The links to these resources are being provided solely to help your organization get started and find information on a range of topics. The inclusion of any particular link should not be construed as promotion or endorsement of that organization by USDA, the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives or Rural Development.

• Best Practices Guide--Guide book provides agency outreach best practices and non-profit best practices in obtaining financial assistance
• 10 Things Your Faith Community Can Do to Encourage Homeownership--Use this Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guide to discover what you and your community of faith can do to help more people in your neighborhood become homeowners.
  
• Trainer Guide to Continuum of Care Planning and Implementation--Learn about HUD's comprehensive approach to preventing and treating homelessness and how it works.
  
• Community Development Block Grant Program Guide--Learn about HUD's flexible and popular program for building communities.
  
• Economic Development Reference Guide--From the International Economic Development Council, this is a good source for tools and resources related to a range of urban economic development issues.
• NeighborWorks--A national nonprofit created by Congress to provide financial support, technical assistance, and training for community-based revitalization efforts. The site offers great resources on program strategizing, community development publications, and training certification.
  
• Publications and Video catalogue--From NeighborWorks America, this contains a range of helpful resources pertaining to the full range of issues pertaining to neighborhood and community economic development.
  
• Community and Economic Development Toolbox--From Penn State and Cornell, this useful step-by-step tool for community economic development is geared toward rural communities but is just as useful for urban neighborhoods.
  

Did You Know ...

• You can get items like buses, freezers, and exercise equipment with or as part of your facility loan/grant through Rural Development's Community Facilities Program?
  
• Even if you think your town is not "rural," your organization may still be eligible for some Rural Development programs? Find out what your area is eligible for.
  
• Rural Development has designated Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Coordinators to assist you in all 50 states? Find your state FBCI representative (PDF).
  
• Rural Development State and local offices host technical assistance workshops around the country for faith-based and community organizations? Find out what is happening in your area.
  
• You don't have to be a 501(c) 3 to apply for Community Facilities Program assistance? See the eligibility criteria for the Community Facilities Program.
  
• There are Rural Development offices nationwide to provide you with personal assistance? Find the office closest to you.

Related Links

• USDA FBCI Website
  Learn about the Initiative and the many ways that faith and community groups can partner with USDA to help those in need.
  
• Food and Nutrition Service FBCI Website
  Does your organization need food to distribute? See all the ways USDA's Food and Nutrition Service can help.
  
• Foreign Agricultural Service FBCI Website
  Find out about USDA's international food aid opportunities for faith-based and community organizations.
  
• HUD FBCI Center
  Is your organization located in an urban area? See more housing and development opportunities available through HUD.
  
• Department of Veterans Affairs FBCI Programs
  Housing veterans? Learn about how the Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Office at Veterans Affairs can help you.
  
• White House FBCI Website
  Learn more about the President's Faith-Based and Community Initiative, and Government-wide opportunities available to faith and community groups.

Legal Documents and Guidance

• Executive Order 13199--Establishes the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
  
• Executive Order 13280--Establishes the USDA Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Offices
  
• Executive Order 13279--Equal Protection of the Laws for Faith-Based and Community Organizations
  
• USDA Final Rule on Equal Opportunity for Religious Organizations (PDF)
  
• White House Fact Sheet: Compassion in Action: Producing Real Results for Americans Most in Need