This Joint Resource Guide was developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA RD) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Administration for Children and Families (HHS-ACF) Office of Early Childhood Development. The purpose of this guide is to provide useful information to help stakeholders in rural communities – including Tribes and Tribal organizations – address the need for improved access to affordable, high-quality child care and early learning facilities. We encourage you to use the resources in this document to develop meaningful partnerships to bolster early childhood development in your communities. By working together to strengthen child care and early learning infrastructure, you can ensure the success of working families and promote a robust rural economy

Are you gardening or farming in an urban environment? USDA has resources that can help you start and grow your operation.

Urban agriculture includes the cultivation, processing, and distribution of agricultural products in urban and suburban areas. Community gardens, rooftop farms, hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic facilities, and vertical production, are all examples of urban agriculture. Tribal communities and small towns may also be included.

USDA is committed to working with farms of all sizes and in all locations, including those in urban areas. Agencies across USDA including the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP), which stretches across multiple agencies, have programs and resources available.

The DOT Navigator is a new resource to help communities understand the best ways to apply for grants, and to plan for and deliver transformative infrastructure projects and services. Whether it’s the first time you’re applying for a DOT grant or you’re looking for more technical details and guidance, the DOT Navigator can help get you started. 

We’ll continue to update the DOT Navigator and welcome your input on essential information to help you apply for grants, identify existing resources, and answer questions on how to connect with funding opportunities provided through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

This site will evolve over time. Its pages provide general information to develop grant applications and understand frequently required documents, contacts to DOT regional and field offices, and a searchable menu of technical assistance resources available to help new and repeat grantees to realize their communities’ vision for moving goods and people safely, efficiently, sustainable, and equitably. 

To assist recipients in implementing funds for affordable housing, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have prepared this guide, which provides a summary of updated guidance related to SLFRF recipients’ ability to use SLFRF funds to invest in affordable housing. The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program, a part of the American Rescue Plan, delivers $350 billion to state, local, and Tribal governments across the country to support their response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Recipient governments have a once in a generation opportunity to invest these SLFRF dollars to boost the supply of affordable housing. Under the program’s final rule, “Development, repair, and operation of affordable housing and services or programs to increase long-term housing security” is an enumerated eligible use to respond to the negative economic impacts of the pandemic on households and communities.

Read the 2022 Rural Partners Network Annual Report to learn about the impact RPN is having in rural communities. 

Juntos somos más fuertes Oportunidades de financiación y planificación federales destinadas a promover el desarrollo económico sostenible en el área rural de los Estados Unidos. Hay una amplia gama de recursos federales disponibles para ayudarle a identifcar programas complementarios, pero puede ser desalentador saber por dónde empezar. Juntos, la Administración de Desarrollo Económico (EDA, por sus siglas en inglés) del Departamento de Comercio de EE.UU. y la unidad de Desarrollo Rural del Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU. (USDA RD, por sus siglas en inglés) se complacen en ofrecer esta guía conjunta de recursos para la planifcación, diseñada para ayudarle a eliminar las barreras y fomentar la colaboración entre las partes interesadas.

Together, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) updated their Stronger Together guide in English and Spanish. The guide was developed to support rural communities build strategies to boost local economic development.  This unique joint resource guide offers programs and services that can be used for economic development and advance job creation. Contacts at each agency are available in the guides

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.