Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA RD CFTAT 2021
The Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA RD CFTAT 2021) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Utilities Programs, under CFDA 10.766. It is designed to fund technical assistance and training efforts that help communities understand, prioritize, and move forward on essential community facilities needs. Rather than paying directly for construction or equipment, the program focuses on the planning and capacity-building work that needs to happen first so rural and underserved areas can successfully pursue financing and develop projects.
Under this opportunity, USDA awards grants to public bodies and private nonprofit organizations so they can provide technical assistance and/or training related to essential community facilities programs. In practice, this means helping local communities, Federally recognized Indian Tribes (including those on Federal and State reservations), and nonprofit corporations identify what community facility gaps exist in their service areas and then plan how to address them. The assistance can include organizing and guiding needs assessments, helping communities define project scopes, supporting early-stage project planning, and strengthening local understanding of how community facilities programs work and what is required to pursue funding.
A key outcome USDA is aiming for is that communities come away with clearer, better-developed community facility priorities and a realistic pathway to finance them. After needs are identified, the grantee is expected to help communities explore and line up public and private resources that could fund those projects. That can involve pointing communities toward relevant federal, state, local, philanthropic, or private financing options, and helping them prepare to approach those resources effectively. The overall intent is to make communities more "project-ready" by improving planning, coordination, and knowledge, so they can compete for and manage facility development resources.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of governmental and nonprofit entities that can serve in a technical assistance role. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education when applying as nonprofits). This mix reflects the program's emphasis on enabling organizations with community development capacity to assist smaller communities and local partners that may not have the staffing or expertise to plan and finance facility projects on their own.
The award ceiling listed for this funding opportunity is $150,000, and USDA anticipated making about 15 awards. The opportunity was created on January 12, 2021, with an original closing date of March 22, 2021. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is Community Development, reinforcing that the program is primarily about strengthening local capacity and planning processes tied to essential community facilities.Apply for USDA RD CFTAT 2021
- The Department of Agriculture, Utilities Programs in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.766.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 12, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 22, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant (USDA RD CFTAT 2021) FAQs
What is the Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training (CFTAT) Grant?
The Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant is a discretionary USDA grant program (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA RD CFTAT 2021) run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Utilities Programs, under CFDA 10.766. It supports technical assistance and training that help communities understand, prioritize, and move forward on essential community facilities needs.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The program is focused on planning and capacity-building work that needs to happen before a community can successfully pursue financing and develop facility projects. The goal is to make rural and underserved areas more "project-ready" by improving planning, coordination, and knowledge around essential community facilities.
Does this grant pay for construction, renovation, or equipment purchases?
No. Based on the opportunity description, the grant is not intended to pay directly for construction or equipment. Instead, it funds technical assistance and training activities that help communities plan, set priorities, define project scopes, and prepare to pursue financing for community facility projects.
Who administers this grant program?
The program is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Utilities Programs.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.766.
What types of activities can be supported with grant funds?
The program supports technical assistance and/or training related to essential community facilities programs. Examples described include organizing and guiding needs assessments, helping communities identify facility gaps, supporting early-stage project planning, helping define project scopes, and strengthening understanding of how community facilities programs work and what is required to pursue funding.
Who is this program intended to help (the end beneficiaries)?
The technical assistance is intended to help local communities, Federally recognized Indian Tribes (including those on Federal and State reservations), and nonprofit corporations identify essential community facility needs and plan how to address them.
Who can apply for the CFTAT grant?
Eligible applicants include a broad set of public and nonprofit entities that can serve in a technical assistance role, including:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and Indian housing authorities
- Public institutions of higher education
- State-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Other tribal organizations
- Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education when applying as nonprofits)
Can nonprofit organizations apply if they are not a 501(c)(3)?
Yes. The opportunity states that nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status are eligible (with the noted exclusion of institutions of higher education when applying as nonprofits).
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are listed as eligible applicants. The program also notes that the technical assistance can support Federally recognized Indian Tribes, including those on Federal and State reservations.
Are higher education institutions eligible to apply?
Yes. Public, state-controlled, and private institutions of higher education are included among eligible applicants. The eligibility description also notes that institutions of higher education are excluded when applying specifically as nonprofits.
What outcomes is USDA looking for from funded projects?
A key intended outcome is that communities develop clearer, better-defined community facility priorities and a realistic pathway to finance them. The technical assistance is meant to help communities become more prepared to compete for and manage facility development resources by strengthening planning, coordination, and knowledge.
What does it mean to make communities more "project-ready" under this grant?
Within the description provided, "project-ready" refers to communities having stronger early-stage planning, better-defined needs and priorities, clearer project scopes, and improved understanding of program requirements and financing pathways so they can pursue funding and move projects forward.
Is identifying financing resources part of the expected technical assistance?
Yes. After needs are identified, the grantee is expected to help communities explore and line up public and private resources that could fund the projects. This can include pointing to federal, state, local, philanthropic, or private financing options and helping communities prepare to approach those resources effectively.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $150,000.
How many awards did USDA anticipate making?
USDA anticipated making about 15 awards under this funding opportunity.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Community Development, reflecting that the program focuses on strengthening local capacity and planning processes tied to essential community facilities.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on January 12, 2021.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date listed was March 22, 2021.
Does this opportunity fund direct service delivery, or does it fund organizations that provide assistance to communities?
Based on the description, USDA awards grants to public bodies and private nonprofit organizations so they can provide technical assistance and/or training to communities related to essential community facilities programs. The grant is positioned as support for organizations delivering planning and capacity-building assistance, rather than paying for construction or equipment.
What kinds of communities are emphasized in the program description?
The opportunity emphasizes rural and underserved areas, with assistance also described as supporting local communities, Federally recognized Indian Tribes (including those on Federal and State reservations), and nonprofit corporations.
What is an example of how a grantee might help a community under this program?
Examples in the description include guiding a needs assessment to identify facility gaps, helping define a project scope, supporting early planning steps, and helping the community understand program requirements and identify potential public and private financing sources to pursue the project.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Community Development
Next opportunity: Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Activity in the Kyrgyz Republic
Previous opportunity: Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) State Education Agency Grants
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for USDA RD CFTAT 2021
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA RD CFTAT 2021) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| U.S. Ambassador's Special Self Help Program Apply for DOS ZAMBIA PE 2021 03 Funding Number: DOS ZAMBIA PE 2021 03 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Zambia Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $15,000 |
| Partnerships for Giving Activity Apply for 72016521RFA00004 Funding Number: 72016521RFA00004 Agency: Agency for International Development, Macedonia USAID-Skopje Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Sustainable Financial Management of CSOs in Cameroon Apply for PAS CMR FY21 06 Funding Number: PAS CMR FY21 06 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Cameroon Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $15,000 |
| U.S. Ambassador's Special Self Help Fund Apply for DOS MSU SSH FY21 Funding Number: DOS MSU SSH FY21 Agency: Department of State, U. S. Mission to Lesotho Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2021 NACA Program Apply for CDFI 2021 NACA Funding Number: CDFI 2021 NACA Agency: US Department of the Treasury, Community Development Financial Institutions Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2021 CDFI Program Apply for CDFI 2021 FATA Funding Number: CDFI 2021 FATA Agency: US Department of the Treasury, Community Development Financial Institutions Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Notice of Funding Opportunity for Alumni Outreach Program Apply for SMK80021PAS003 Funding Number: SMK80021PAS003 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to North Macedonia Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| USAID/Kosovo Local Works Activity Apply for 72016721RFA00003 Funding Number: 72016721RFA00003 Agency: Agency for International Development, Kosovo USAID-Pristina Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2021 Rapid Response Program Apply for CDFI 2021 RRP Funding Number: CDFI 2021 RRP Agency: US Department of the Treasury, Community Development Financial Institutions Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| USAID/Colombia Stregthening Together Activity Apply for 72051421RFA00002 Funding Number: 72051421RFA00002 Agency: Agency for International Development, Colombia USAID-Bogota Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $23,000,000 |
| Section 4 Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Apply for FR 6400 N 07 Funding Number: FR 6400 N 07 Agency: US Department of Housing and Urban Development Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $36,000,000 |
| USAID Local Governance Strengthening Activity in the Kyrgyz Republic Apply for 72011521RFA00001 Funding Number: 72011521RFA00001 Agency: Agency for International Development, Kazakhstan USAID-Almaty Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Philanthropy Awareness Activity Apply for 72016821RFA00001 Funding Number: 72016821RFA00001 Agency: Agency for International Development, Bosnia USAID-Herzegovina Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| U.S. Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund, U.S. Embassy Lilongwe Apply for DOS MWI ASSHF FY20 Funding Number: DOS MWI ASSHF FY20 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Malawi Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $8,000 |
| Angola - Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund Apply for DOS ANGOLA SSH FY21 01 Funding Number: DOS ANGOLA SSH FY21 01 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Angola Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| U.S. Embassy Gaborone Ambaassador's Special Self-Help Fund Program Apply for DOS GABORONE GR ASSHF FY21 Funding Number: DOS GABORONE GR ASSHF FY21 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Botswana Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2021 Small Dollar Loan Program Apply for CDFI 2021 SDL Funding Number: CDFI 2021 SDL Agency: US Department of the Treasury, Community Development Financial Institutions Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| U. S. AMBASSADOR'S SPECIAL SELF-HELP FUND Apply for SMZ 500 FY21 01 Funding Number: SMZ 500 FY21 01 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Mozambique Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| FY 2021 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Refugee and Asylee Integration Services (RAIS) Apply for CI CET 21 002 Funding Number: CI CET 21 002 Agency: Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| FY 2021 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program; Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services Apply for CI CET 21 001 Funding Number: CI CET 21 001 Agency: Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division Category: Community Development Funding Amount: $8,500,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "USDA RD CFTAT 2021", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.