U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the grant application process this week.

 

"Many rural nonprofits often need capital and technical assistance to carry out their missions," Vilsack said in a statement. "These grants will provide both of these components through local and regional organizations that are experts at delivering such services."

 

USDA is making nearly $6 million available to qualified organizations under the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI).

 

Recipients must be non-profit organizations, low-income rural communities, or federally recognized tribes. Intermediary organizations are required to provide matching funds at least equal to the RCDI grant. The grants do not go directly to business recipients but rather through qualified intermediaries.

 

The deadline for submitting RCDI applications is November 12, 2014.