This resource provides brief details for the Rural Community Development Program; such as, uses for the grants, eligible applicants for the grants, and the legislative authority for the grants.

PROGRAM NAME: RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (RCD)

Purpose:

To work with regional and tribal organizations to manage safe water systems in rural communities, and to provide training and technical assistance to very small, low-income rural communities in developing and managing affordable and safe water and wastewater treatment facilities..

Legislative Authority:

Section 680 (a) (3) (B) of the Community Services Block Grant Act, as amended; the Coats Human Services Reauthorization Act of1998 (P.L. 105- 285).

Appropriations:

In FY 2019, $9.0 million.
In FY 2018, $8 million.

Eligible Applicants:

Multi-state, regional, private, non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations that can provide training and technical assistance to small, low-income, rural and tribal communities concerning their community facility needs.

Target Population:

Individuals with low incomes residing in the project's service area.

Uses:

RCD funds are used to provide training and technical assistance to:

• Increase access for families with low incomes to water supply and waste disposal services;
• Preserve affordable water and waste disposal services in low-income rural communities;
• Increase local capacity and expertise to establish and maintain needed community facilities;
• Increase economic opportunities for low-income rural communities by ensuring they have basic water and sanitation;
• Utilize technical assistance to leverage additional public and private resources; and
• Promote improved coordination of federal, state, and local agencies and financing programs to benefit low-income communities.

Type of Grant:

Competitive Discretionary Grant

Program Highlights:

RCD is the only federal program that provides training and technical assistance on creating and maintaining safe and affordable water and wastewater systems for the nation’s unincorporated areas and the lowest income communities, including tribal areas. Many of these communities have populations at or below 2,500 individuals with no clean water systems and/or no access to existing water systems. Regional Training and Technical Assistance grants and Tribal Training and Technical Assistance grants provide a resource to ensure that small communities have access to safe water systems by helping them develop their own systems, connect to systems in neighboring communities, or improve their existing systems.

Program Contact:

Rafael J. Elizalde, Program Manager
Rural Community Development Program
Office of Community Services
Phone: 202-401-5115
OCSgrants@acf.hhs.gov
/programs/ocs/programs/rcd