Community Facilities Program Disaster Repair Grants in Idaho

What does this program do?

This program provides grants to repair essential community facilities in rural areas that were damaged by Presidentially Declared Disasters in Calendar Year 2022. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.

Who can apply?

• Public bodies as noted above
• Community-based nonprofit organizations
• Federally recognized Tribes

What is an eligible area?

Rural areas in States impacted by Presidentially Declared Disasters in Calendar Year 2022 including cities, villages, townships and towns including Federally Recognized Tribal Lands with no more than 20,000 residents according to the latest U.S. Census Data are eligible for this program.

For the most current list of Presidentially Declared Disasters, visit the United States (U.S.) Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website. Major disaster declarations, emergency declarations, and fire management declarations are all eligible for this program.

How can funds be used?

Grants can be used to repair essential community facilities damaged by Presidentially declared disasters in Calendar Year 2022, including the replacement of damaged equipment or vehicles, and the purchase of new equipment to undertake repairs to damaged facilities. 

Examples of essential community facilities include:

• Health care facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes or assisted living facilities
• Public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, streets, public works vehicles or equipment
• Community support services such as child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds or transitional housing
• Public safety services such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, police vehicles, or fire trucks
• Educational services such as museums, libraries, or schools
• Utility services such as telemedicine or distance learning equipment
• Local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs, or greenhouses

For more information on Community Facilities Program Grants see Code of Federal Regulations see 7 CFR, Part 3570.62.

For more information on Community Facilities Disaster Repair Grants see Announcement of the Availability of Community Facilities Program Disaster Repair Grants.

What kinds of funding are available?

The Community Facilities Disaster Repair Grant may fund up to 75 percent of the cost of repair to a damaged Facility. Funding for the balance of the project may consist of applicant contributions, loans and grants from other sources, or other Community Facilities financial assistance including the Community Facilities Direct Loan as well as the loan guarantee program if all eligibility and feasibility requirements are met.

What are the funding priorities?

Rural Development Key Priorities: The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities:

• Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure;
• Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
• Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.

• Priority point system based on population and median household income:
  • Small communities with a population of 5,000 or less
  • Low-income communities having a median household income below the higher of the poverty line or 90% or below of the state nonmetropolitan median household income.

• Priority points will also be assigned for one or more of the following:

• Project is for health care

• Project is for public safety

• Project is consistent with, and is reflected in, the State Strategic Plan

What are some of the grant terms?

Grants may cover up to 75 percent of total project cost. There is no minimum or maximum award amount. Applications will compete for available funding allocated to the applicable USDA RD State office.

Funding for the balance of the project may consist of other financial assistance, applicant contributions, or loans and grants from other sources. In-kind contributions are not an acceptable source of cost-sharing funds. The Community Facilities Direct Loan Program resources are also available to eligible applicants to satisfy cost sharing requirements. Applicants may request a combination of Community Facilities Direct Loan and Disaster Repair Grants in one application.

Grant Approval:

Applications will be reviewed in accordance with the Community Facilities Program regulations. If at any time the demand for grant funds is greater than the amount of grant funds available, a priority ranking scoring system will be used to determine which projects are funded based on the funds available in the State allocation. Please refer to the Announcement of the Availability of Community Facilities Program Disaster Repair Grants    for more details.

Are there additional requirements?

• Applicants must have legal authority to borrow money, obtain security, repay loans, construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities
• Applicants must be unable to finance the project from their own resources and/or through commercial credit at reasonable rates and terms
• Facilities must have been damaged by a Federally declared disaster in calendar year 2022 and serve the rural area where they are/will be located
• Project must demonstrate substantial community support
• Environmental review must be completed/acceptable

How do we get started?

• Contact your local office to discuss your specific project
• Applications for this program will be accepted on a continual basis until all funds are expended
• Program resources are available online (includes forms needed, guidance, certifications) and the Rural Development Office in your area can direct you to these resources
• Register your organization with the System for Award Management (SAM) if you aren’t already registered. The registration is free, but you need to complete several steps.
• In order to register in SAM, entities will be required to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Instructions for obtaining the UEI are available at SAM.gov.

Who can answer questions?

Contact your local RD office.

What governs this program?

• The Community Facilities Disaster Repair Grant Program is authorized under Division N - Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, (Pub. L. 117-328)
• Grants: 7 CFR Part 3570, Subpart B

NOTE: Because citations and other information may be subject to change please always consult the program Instructions listed in the section above titled "What Law Governs this Program?" You may also contact your local office for assistance.