The Distressed Cities and Persistent Poverty Technical Assistance (DCTA) program is designed to improve fiscal health and build capacity of relatively small units of general local government (UGLGs) and their nonprofit partners in places experiencing persistent poverty and economic distress. “Local governments” include villages, towns, tribes, cities, counties, and other small municipalities.

Needs for TA may stem from multiple factors including, but not limited to, changing market dynamics, economic decline, emigration, and/or natural disasters. TA is primarily focused on financial management but may include governance and management, leadership development, data and research, building partnerships, community engagement, strategic planning, plan implementation, and program evaluation. The guidance provided by TA teams helps recipients build specific knowledge and skills to be more successful in meeting the needs of their communities.

The Thriving Communities Technical Assistance (TCTA) program, funded in FY 2022 with $5 million, is designed to support coordination and integration of transportation and housing in infrastructure planning and implementation. Jurisdictions can leverage these infrastructure investments to revitalize communities, ensure equitable access to resources, create economic opportunities for residents and businesses, and improve housing availability, affordability, and quality. 

The Rural Gateway is an information clearinghouse providing technical assistance, training workshops, and peer learning and resource sharing to support rural housing and economic development.

This Climate Resilience Implementation Guide provides step-by-step instructions to assist communities in implementing mobility improvements to decarbonize their transportation systems, build resilience, and adapt to the impacts of natural hazards. Grantees are encouraged to use this guide for suggestions on how to effectively use Community Planning and Development (CPD)-funded programs and other resources to design and implement such solutions.

Historically underserved farmers and ranchers represent a diverse share of all U.S. agricultural producers.1 This includes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers (SDFRs), who are producers belonging to a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender discrimination, including tribal and Indigenous agricultural producers. At the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), historically underserved producers also include beginning farmers or ranchers (BFRs), veteran farmers or ranchers (VFRs), and limited resource farmers and ranchers (LRFRs). Although these producer groups are eligible for USDA programs available to all U.S. farmers and ranchers, recent legislation and omnibus farm bills have provided targeted support for these groups. This report provides a list of authorized programs and provisions that reference these selected agricultural producers.

The Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) Stakeholder Toolkit includes resources to help organizations amplify funding available through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 LAMP grants. LAMP encompasses the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), Regional Food System Partnerships Program (RFSP), and Value-Added Producer Grants Program (VAPG). The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers FMPP, LFPP, and RFSP. VAPG is administered through USDA Rural Development (RD). The Stakeholder Toolkit focuses only on funding available through USDA AMS for FMPP, LFPP, and RFSP. All information provided is available for public use.  

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) developed the Rural Grant Applicant Toolkit for Competitive Federal Transportation Funding to guide potential applicants in identifying and navigating these discretionary opportunities for rural transportation projects. 

Although the focus of the Grant Applicant Toolkit is rural transportation projects, many of the grant funding resources contained throughout also apply more broadly to other types of transportation projects.

The Grant Applicant Toolkit is designed for all levels of grant applicant experience. It illustrates key applicant activities for the discretionary grants process, covers USDOT and non-USDOT grant programs, and provides resources to maximize the potential for award success.

This is a step-by-step guide intended to help communities and workers start the process of planning or responding to economic and social changes resulting from the energy transition or any major economic shift. It is a planning and action tool for community leaders, volunteers, and change agents. It’s also a guide to help communities and other eligible entities access federal funds to address economic resiliency.

Strategic economic development revitalizes communities. Approached holistically, it attracts investments, builds wealth, and promotes sustainability. As a foundational first step, planning is crucial to successful economic development. It encourages us to leverage resources, build partnerships, advance the principles of equity, and strengthen systems to address global threats like climate change. By sequencing – or “stacking” – funding opportunities, you can effectively meet your community’s economic development goals. There is a wide range of federal resources available to help you identify complementary programs, but it can be daunting to know where to begin. Together, the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA RD) are pleased to offer this joint planning resource guide, designed to help you eliminate barriers and encourage collaboration among your stakeholders.

This toolkit is meant to be a one-stop resource to help rural communities scope, plan, and identify ways to fund EV-charging infrastructure. A rural organization or individual—such as a property owner, business, town, Tribe, or planning or transit agency—can use the toolkit to identify key partners for a project, take advantage of relevant planning tools, and identify available funding or financing to help make that project a reality.