Community Development & Employment Grants provide funding for organizations and programs in this focus area. Sources include federal agencies, state programs, and private foundations. Use the listings below to find current opportunities, eligibility requirements, and deadlines — and apply directly to the funder when you find a fit.
Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) - USDA Administering Organization: Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) with USDA funding Funding Amount: $200,000 Project Focus Areas: - Host the…
Rural County Grant (UT) Status: ACTIVE Funder: Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity Amount: Up to US $200,000 Last Updated: April 14, 2025 Summary The Rural County Grant in Utah empowers…
Rural Downtown Economic Development Grants Status: ACTIVE Funder: North Carolina Department of Commerce Amount: Up to US $850,000 Last Updated: March 11, 2026 Summary The Rural Downtown Economic…
Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) Grant Program Organization: Oklahoma Association of Regional Councils (OARC) Geographic Scope: Small towns and rural communities in Oklahoma Purpose: Providing…
Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Programs This program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. It provides loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass…
State funds appropriated to help rural areas employ full-time economic development professionals to manage locally directed economic development programs alongside a board of directors.
With the rural modifications to the EDTIF program, known as REDTIF, projects within rural Utah qualify for more significant incentive amounts.
Rural Economic Improvement Project (REIP) Grant Funder: Alabama Civil Justice Foundation (ACJF) Award Amount: $235,000 Geographic Scope: Rural Alabama communities, with specific focus on the…
Rural Electric Economic Development Fund (REED) Status: Active revolving loan fund established in 1996 Geographic Scope: South Dakota and western Minnesota, serving East River member cooperatives'…
Rural Grants Status: ACTIVE Funder: Daniel Foundation of Alabama Last Updated: March 15, 2026 Summary The Rural Grants program by the Daniel Foundation of Alabama aims to enhance community well-being…
Rural Grocery Store Sustainability Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: North Dakota Department of Commerce Amount: Up to US $150,000 Last Updated: July 14, 2025 Summary The Rural Grocery Store…
Rural Grocery Store Sustainability Grant Status: Active (applications opened July 9, 2025 at 3 p.m. CDT) Geographic Scope: Rural North Dakota communities Focus Areas: Food access, grocery store…
Rural Housing Readiness Assessment Grant Program (IA) Status: ACTIVE Funder: Iowa Economic Development Authority Amount: Up to US $20,000 Last Updated: July 08, 2025 Summary The Rural Housing…
Rural Initiative Grant Program Status: ACTIVE Funder: Laura Jane Musser Fund Amount: Up to US $25,000 Last Updated: February 06, 2026 Summary The Rural Initiative Grant Program by the Laura Jane…
Rural Innovation Initiative (RII) Status: Active program Overview: The Rural Innovation Initiative is a technical assistance program supporting rural communities working to create digital economy…
Rural Innovation Network Status: Active community of practice Overview: The Rural Innovation Network is a growing consortium of small towns engaged in building digital economy ecosystems. It…
Rural Jump-Start Grant Program Funder: Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Geographic Scope: Rural, economically distressed counties in Colorado designated as…
Rural Jump-Start Program Grant Status: ACTIVE Funder: Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade Amount: Up to US $25,000 Last Updated: October 21, 2025 Summary The Rural…
Raises overall standard of living in rural areas to meet or exceed statewide benchmark averages by 2030 while preserving cultural heritage and rural way of life. Facilitates targeted investments in…
Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund Funder: Maryland Nonprofits Status: The fund is currently accepting applications as part of a two-program grant cycle. Focus Areas: - Rural Maryland…