The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) Office of Rural Development (ORD) is offering the Rural Readiness Grant Program, a funding opportunity designed to empower community-specific solutions that build capacity and readiness in rural communities and regions across Michigan.
Donor Name: Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD)
State: Michigan
Counties: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/25/2023
Size of the Grant: up to $50,000
Grant Duration: 18 months
Details:
This reimbursement grant program provides eligible communities with up to $50,000 to support collaborative planning and capacity initiatives. Eligible Areas Rural communities and tax-exempt organizations serving rural communities are eligible to apply for grant funds designed to support collaborative planning and capacity building initiatives that advance efforts to address local needs including, but not limited to, housing, broadband, placemaking, energy, transportation, health, infrastructure, economic development, and workforce. Multi-jurisdictional and multi-sector projects are encouraged. Organizations or communities outside of eligible rural areas may apply if their application includes a formal partnership with an organization or community in an eligible rural area, and if the outcome of the project will address issues in eligible rural areas. For example, an applicant located in an area not listed below may submit a joint application with an applicant located within an eligible rural area listed below for a project that serves multiple jurisdictions or communities.
Grantees will be eligible for reimbursement up to three (3) times, at specified dates, during the 18-month grant cycle, with the final reimbursement provided at the completion of the project.
Eligible rural counties are defined as follows:
- Counties designated by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as non-metropolitan counties, including those located within micropolitan statistical areas.
- Outlying counties in Metropolitan Statistical Areas that do not include an urbanized area as defined by the Census. Alcona, Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Benzie, Branch, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Emmet, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Houghton, Huron, Ionia, Iosco, Isabella, Kalkaska, Keweenaw, Lake, Leelanau, Lenawee, Luce, Mackinac, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Missaukee, Montcalm, Montmorency, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, St. Joseph, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Tuscola, Van Buren, Wexford, Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Ingham, Lapeer, Monroe, Muskegon, Saginaw, Shiawassee, Washtenaw
Eligible Activities
Funding will be focused on the following types of projects in rural areas:
- Rural Capacity Building
- Eligible activities include new, enhanced, or scaled fellowship programs or community-based internship programs, development of training curricula, leadership development programs, and shared services or staff dedicated to specific project or planning needs. Projects must demonstrate an innovative, collaborative approach to building long-term capacity.
- Development Readiness
- Projects include activities that prepare communities or key properties for development or investment, including development of property inventories, site development studies, site material development, site implementation or land assembly activities, feasibility, or market studies, and more.
- Partnerships and Planning
- Activities include development of plans and implementation structures that build readiness for future projects, collaborative initiatives, development, and investment.
- Cross-sector Collaboration
- Activities include different forms of community and stakeholder engagement that foster planning and dialogue across sectors, governments, and agency types.
Eligible Applicants
- Tax-exempt organizations/nonprofits, including community foundations and statewide associations.
- Local units of government (county, city, township, village, school district; any authority composed of counties, cities, townships, villages and school districts or combination of these entities). NOTE: Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) and Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESAs) are eligible.
- Federally Recognized Tribes
- Educational institutions (i.e., universities, community colleges). Note: while the educational institution applying for funding may be in an urban area, the project itself must serve one or more eligible rural areas.
- Regional planning agencies and economic or workforce development organizations
For more information, visit MDARD.
