Inviting Applications for Rural Cooperative Development Grants

This Notice announces that the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Agency) is accepting fiscal year (FY) 2017 applications for the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program. This Notice is being issued prior to enactment of a full year appropriation act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. The RCDG program is authorized under section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT) as amended by the Agricultural Act of 2014. The purpose of announcing the RCDG program prior to the enactment of full year appropriations is to provide applicants sufficient time to prepare and submit their applications in response to this solicitation and to provide the Agency time to process applications within FY 2017. Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the applicant's risk. The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to improve the economic condition of rural areas through cooperative development. Eligible applicants include a non-profit corporation or an institution of higher education.