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Grants for Rural Communities and Rural Organizations

Rural communities and organizations have access to billions in dedicated federal funding through USDA Rural Development, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Delta Regional Authority (DRA), and Northern Border Regional Commission. These programs fund infrastructure, healthcare, broadband, economic development, and community facilities in rural areas.

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Plant Protection Act Section 7721 Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program (PPDMDPP)

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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

<p>This funding opportunity is provided to carry out the provisions described in <a href="https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title7-section7721&amp;num=0&amp;edition=prelim" target="_blank">Section 7721 of the Plant Protection Act</a>. Through the PPA 7721 program, APHIS provides funds to support projects that protect specialty crops, nursery systems, forestry, other agricultural production systems, and natural resources from harmful and invasive plant pests and pathogens. Additional details about the program are available on the<u style="color: blue;"> </u><a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/funding/ppdmdpp" target="_blank">PPDMDPP</a> website. APHIS will make available up to $90,000,000 <span style="color: black;">in funds </span>to support PPA 7721 projects in Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027), with at least $73 million anticipated to be available for PPA 7721 PPDMDPP.</p> <p>APHIS will consider suggestions that clearly and directly support the objectives and strategies within the six PPDMDPP goal areas<em>.</em> <strong>Suggesters should refer to the </strong><a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ppa7721-fy27-implementation-plan_0.pdf" target="_blank">FY 2027 PPA 7721 Implementation Plan</a><strong>, for details about the strategies and objectives for each goal area. </strong></p> <p><strong>Program Objectives:</strong> PPDMDPP funds projects focused on critical needs and opportunities to prevent against, detect, and mitigate invasive plant pests and diseases. PPDMDPP projects are organized around six goal areas:<span style="color: black;"> </span></p> <ul> <li>Plant Pest and Disease Survey and Analysis</li> <li>Domestic Inspection</li> <li>Pest Identification and Diagnostic Technology</li> <li>Protecting Nursery Production</li> <li>Public Outreach and Education</li> <li>Pest Mitigation and Rapid Response</li> </ul> <p><strong>Expected Outcomes:</strong> Projects funded under this announcement are expected to support activities that will protect U.S. specialty crops, nursery systems, forestry, and other agricultural production and natural resources from harmful and exotic plant pests and pathogens by improving early plant pest detection, threat identification, and mitigation capabilities.</p> <p><strong>Funding Priorities: </strong>PPA 7721’s<strong> </strong>PPDMDPP funds projects focused on critical needs and opportunities to prevent against, detect, and mitigate invasive plant pests and diseases organized around six goal areas. These six goal areas represent the Program’s funding priorities and include: enhancing plant pest and disease survey and analysis; targeting domestic inspection; enhancing and strengthening pest identification and technology; safeguarding nursery production; conducting targeted outreach and education; and enhancing mitigation and rapid response capabilities (see <a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ppa7721-fy27-implementation-plan_0.pdf" target="_blank">FY 2027 Implementation Plan</a><strong>).</strong></p> <p>Suggesters must complete a single PPA 7721 ServiceNow Suggestion Submission form per suggestion that provides details on all aspects of the project. The PPA 7721 ServiceNow Suggestion Submission form is available through the PPA 7721 ServiceNow Suggestion Submission portal. Suggesters must include a completed Budget, Survey, or Diagnostic Laboratory template, and Narrative Report (if applicable) as an uploaded document with the form. Refer to the<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2027-ppa7721-ppdmdpp-application-package-rev.zip" target="_blank">PPA 7721 ServiceNow Suggestion Submission Guidance</a> for more information about submitting suggestions to the PPA 7721 ServiceNow Suggestion Submission portal.</p>

$1 – $400K
2026-09-21
AgricultureArts & Culture

Free to search & build · $99 one-time to unlock the application pack · No subscription

NRCS' Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Fiscal Year (FY) 2026

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Natural Resources Conservation Service

<p>The purpose of the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Project (FSCP) is to respond to the threat feral swine pose to agriculture, native ecosystems, and human and animal health. Feral swine are a destructive, non-native, invasive species and their populations have expanded across the United States since the 1980’s. Over an estimated $3.4 billion in damage, including agricultural, is caused by feral swine each year. The species can have significant negative impacts on plant and animal habitats, soils, water quality, as well as other natural and cultural resources. Livestock and humans are also susceptible to diseases carried by feral swine. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 directs the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to carry out the pilot program where the Secretary has determined that feral swine have been identified as such a threat and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act extended this authority. FSCP funding will be available for projects identified by</p><p>USDA in conjunction with State Technical Committees in states determined by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services as having high feral swine densities. Please visit the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program webpage (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feral-swine-eradication-and-control-pilot-program) to find the proposed pilot projects looking for applicants. Additional information about proposed pilot project activities in the following states Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas will also be available on the webpage. Pilot projects will consist broadly of three coordinated components: 1) feral swine removal by APHIS, 2) restoration efforts supported by NRCS or non-federal partner, and 3) assistance to producers for feral swine control provided through grants with non-federal partners. This call for proposals is intended to address component 2 and component 3 described above for non-federal partners to provide landowner assistance for restoration and/or on-farm trapping efforts and provide related services as part of the pilot projects described above. Funding for these services will be provided through grant agreements between partners and NRCS. All</p><p>projects will be a collaborative and coordinated effort between the selected partner, NRCS, and APHIS. It is required that APHIS maintains operational control of feral swine management activities.</p><p><br></p><p>A webinar for NRCS' Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program 2026 is scheduled for July 29, 2026 3-4 p.m. Eastern Time and August 20, 2026 3-4 p.m. Eastern Time.</p>

$75K – $3M
2026-09-21
AgricultureenvironmentArts & Culture

Free to search & build · $99 one-time to unlock the application pack · No subscription

Grant Details: Amounts and Deadlines

Grant NameFunderAmountDeadline
Plant Protection Act Section 7721 Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program (PPDMDPP)Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service$1 - $400KSep 21, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Buses and Bus Facilities ProgramDOT - Federal Transit AdministrationVariesSep 21, 2026
NRCS' Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Fiscal Year (FY) 2026Natural Resources Conservation Service$75K - $3MSep 21, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Low or No Emission ProgramDOT - Federal Transit AdministrationVariesSep 21, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Buses and Bus Facilities ProgramDOT - Federal Transit AdministrationVariesSep 21, 2026
BJS FY 2026 National Incident-Based Reporting System Estimation ProgramBureau of Justice StatisticsUp to $5.3MSep 21, 2026
Fiscal Year 2026 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Low or No Emission ProgramDOT - Federal Transit AdministrationVariesSep 21, 2026
Agriculture Risk Management Education Partnerships Competitive Grants ProgramNational Institute of Food and Agriculture$566K - $2.1MSep 21, 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions: Grants for Rural Communities

What is USDA Rural Development?
USDA Rural Development administers over 40 programs providing loans, grants, and loan guarantees for rural housing, businesses, utilities, and community facilities. Key grant programs include Community Facilities, Rural Business Development, and Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants.
How is 'rural' defined for grant eligibility?
Definitions vary by program. USDA generally defines rural as areas with populations under 50,000 outside urbanized areas. Some programs use 20,000 or 10,000 thresholds. The USDA Rural Eligibility Area tool at rd.usda.gov lets you check your address.
Are there broadband grants for rural areas?
Yes. The USDA ReConnect Program provides grants and loans for rural broadband deployment. The FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program from NTIA provide additional billions for rural connectivity.

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