USDA is encouraging projects that support multijurisdictional strategic economic and community development plans.Section 6025 of the 2014 Farm Bill allows the USDA Secretary to give priority to projects that support the plans. The Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) Notice provides guidance in the notice published in the Federal Register on May 10, 2018.
Within USDA Rural Development, the Business and Industry Loan (B&I Loan), the Rural Business Development Grant, the Community Facilities (CF) Program and the Water and Environmental Programs (WEP) are eligible for additional SECD priority points.
To gain SECD priority points, applicants need to submit Form RD 1980-88 and supporting documentation to USDA Rural Development along with the regular program application.
If an applicant has already submitted an FY 2018 application for one of the USDA programs listed above and wishes to be considered for SECD priority points, the applicant must submit Form RD 1980-88 by the underlying program deadline or Sept. 30, 2018, whichever comes first.
The Section 6025 application is available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/vtnh.RBDG_.RD1980-88.16.pdf
For more information in Nevada regarding SECD priority points grants, contact USDA Rural Development Business Programs Director Herb Shedd or Community Programs Director Cheryl Couch at (775) 887-1222.