USDA ECONOMICS IMPACT INITIATIVE GRANTS

Economic Impact Initiative Grants assist in the development of Essential Community Facilities in rural communities with extreme unemployment and severe economic depression.

“Essential Community Facilities” are facilities that (a) provide an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and (b) do not include private, commercial or business undertakings.

An applicant must be a public body, nonprofit corporation, or a federally-recognized Tribe (the “Grant Applicant”).

A successful Grant Applicant uses the funds of its Community Impact Initiative Grant to construct, enlarge or improve community facilities for health care, public safety and public service.

Examples of Essential Community Facilities include: (a) health care facilities (such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes or assisted living facilities); (b) public facilities (such as town halls, courthouses, airport hangars or street improvements); (c) community support services (such as child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds or transitional housing); (d) public safety services (such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, police vehicles, fire trucks, public works vehicles or equipment); (e) educational services (such as museums, libraries or private schools); (f) utility services (such as telemedicine or distance learning equipment); and (g) local food systems (such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs or greenhouses).