LITTLE ROCK, March 8, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Arkansas State Director Jill Floyd announced today that USDA is providing a $500,000 Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Grant to Communities Unlimited of Fayetteville to provide technical assistance and training to 11 rural communities across the Southern US, including Kingsland and Mountain View in Arkansas.
The training will provide skills local leaders can use to take advantage of Federal funding opportunities to move their communities toward sustainable prosperity. Training will include: grant writing, healthy foods initiatives, broadband assessments, and geographic information system (GIS) mapping for water and wastewater systems.
“Providing rural community leaders with these tools better positions them to take advantage of opportunities that drive economic security,” said Director Floyd. “We are proud to partner with Communities Unlimited in their efforts to connect rural communities with solutions for achieving sustainable prosperity. Transforming training and planning into action and results is critical to fueling future opportunities in our rural communities.”
Communities Unlimited serves seven southern states including Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas – each with rural communities.
“Our partnership with USDA is an integral part of the way Communities Unlimited's Community Sustainability work happens. We are grateful for the opportunity to elevate rural voices and partner with local champions. Much of that work would not happen without our longstanding relationship with USDA,” said Martha Claire Bullen, Communities Unlimited Community Sustainability Director. “Not only is their funding critical to offering rural communities the resources they want and need; [but] their willingness to listen to the voices of rural communities builds relationships that last.”
Bullen said partnering with USDA RD Arkansas is integral to the agency’s mission to create vibrant, sustainable economies in the rural south.
““We are so grateful for always having the support of USDA…[They are] our hometown team, and their support is critical to our successful engagement,” she said.
RCDI grants are awarded to help non-profit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities and community and economic development projects in rural areas.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.