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Economic Impact Initiative Grants in North Carolina

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What does this program do?
This program provides funding to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural communities with extreme unemployment and severe economic depression.

An essential community facility is one that provides an essential service to the local community, is needed for the orderly development of the community, serves a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.

Who may apply for this program?

  • Public bodies
  • Non-profits
  • Federally-recognized Tribes 

What is an eligible area?

  • Rural areas including; cities, villages, townships, towns and federally-recognized Tribal Lands, with no more than 20,000 residents that have a “Not Employed Rate” greater than 19.5%
  • The median household income of a community being served must be below 90% of the state non-metropolitan median household income for grant eligibility
  • Grant assistance is based on a graduated scale determined by population, median household income, total project costs and financial need

How may funds be used?

To construct, enlarge or improve community facilities for health care, public safety and public service. Grants may be made in combination with other financial assistance such as a Community Facilities direct or guaranteed loan, applicant contribution or funding from other sources.

Examples of essential community facilities include:

  • Health Care: hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes, assisted-living facilities
  • Public Facilities: city/town/village halls, courthouses, airport hangers, street improvements
  • Community Support Services: child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds, transitional housing
  • Public Safety: fire halls, police stations, prisons, jails, police vehicles, fire trucks, public works vehicles and equipment
  • Educational: museums, libraries, private schools
  • Utility:  telemedicine, distance learning
  • Local Food Systems: community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs, greenhouses, kitchen appliances
  • For a complete list, see Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 3570.7

What kind of funding is available?
 

  • Grants up to 75% of eligible project cost based on need and funding availability
  • Applicant must be eligible for grant assistance, which is determined by the population and median household income of the service area
  • Grant funds must be available

Are there additional requirements?

  • Applicants must be unable to finance the project from their own resources and/or through commercial credit at reasonable rates and terms
  • Facilities must serve the rural area where they are/will be located
  • Projects must demonstrate substantial community support
  • Environmental review must be completed and determined to be acceptable
  • Priorities are given to projects related to public health and safety, energy efficiency and education

How do we get started?

  • Contact your local office to discuss your specific project
  • Applications for this program are accepted through your local office year round
  • Program resources are available online (includes forms, guidance and certifications)

Who can answer questions?
Contact your local office.

What governs this program?
Code of Federal Regulation; 7 CFR 3015, and 7 USD 1926 (a) (20) (B).

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?
This program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities extend and improve community facilities and public safety. These improvements save tax dollars, improve the natural environment and increase economic development as manufacturers and other types of businesses can locate or expand operations in the rural communities.


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.

NOTE: If state specific forms are not shown above, please refer to the application materials listed below to start the process of applying. Please ensure that your state is selected in the dropdown menu above to find the State Office contact information for this program and speak to a Community Programs Specialist before attempting to fill out any forms or applications. This will save you valuable time in the process.

Application checklist for use with this program:

RD Form 1942-40, Checklist - Public Body (pdf) or

RD Form 1942-39, Checklist - Other Than Public Bodies (pdf)

There are no other additional requirements at the national level. If there are additional state-specific requirements they will be listed above.

 ASHEVILLE AREA OFFICE

Jody Lovelace, Area Director

160 Zillicoa Street, Suite #2

Asheville, NC 28801

828-254-0916

844-325-6823 Fax

Email: jody.lovelace@usda.gov

Counties Served: All Area One Counties

JEFFERSON SUB AREA OFFICE

134 Law Enforcement Dr., Suite 201

Jefferson, NC 28640

336-246-2885

844-325-6823 Fax

Email: Joyce.Latham@usda.gov

Counties Served: Ashe, Watauga, Alleghany, Wilkes, Caldwell

FRANKLIN LOCAL OFFICE

195 Thomas Heights Road

Franklin, NC 28734

828-524-3175

844-325-6823 Fax

Email: rebecca.pinto@usda.gov

Counties Served: Macon, Haywood, Jackson, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Swain

MURPHY LOCAL OFFICE

225 Valley River Avenue, Suite J

Murphy, NC 28906

828-837-2721

844-325-6823 Fax

Email: jody.lovelace@usda.gov

SPRUCE PINE LOCAL OFFICE

11943 S. 226 Hwy Suite D

Spruce Pine, NC 28777

828-765-0889

844-325-6823 Fax

Email: susan.roland@usda.gov

Counties Served: Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Avery, Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania

SHELBY AREA OFFICE

Jody Lovelace, Area Director

844 Wallace Grove Road

Shelby, NC 28150

704-471-0235

844-325-6850 Fax

Email: kevin.oliver@usda.gov

Counties Served: Cleveland, Gaston, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Mecklenburg

WINSTON-SALEM SUB AREA OFFICE

Forsyth County Agriculture Building Room 102

1450 Fairchild Drive

Winston Salem, NC 27105

704-471-0235

844-325-6850 Fax

Email: kevin.oliver@usda.gov

Counties Served: Forsyth, Alexander, Burke, Davie 

STATESVILLE LOCAL OFFICE

444 Bristol Drive

Statesville, NC 28677

704-471-0235

844-325-6850 Fax

Counties Served: Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln

Email: kevin.oliver@usda.gov

DOBSON LOCAL OFFICE

220 Cooper Street

PO Box 66

Dobson, NC 27017

336-386-8751

844-325-6850 Fax

Email: debbie.dickerson@usda.gov

Counties Served: Surry, Yadkin, Stokes

LUMBERTON AREA OFFICE

Larry Sampson, Area Director

PO Box 7426

440-C Caton Road

Lumberton, NC 28360

910-887-3762

844-325-6830 Fax

Email: larry.sampson@usda.gov

Counties Served: Robeson, Bladen, Cumberland, Scotland, Hoke, Columbus

SMITHFIELD SUB AREA OFFICE

Johnston County Agric Service Bldg

2736 Hwy 210

Smithfield, NC 27577

919-300-4866

844-325-6830 Fax

Email: kristi.wilson@usda.gov

Counties Served: Johnston, Harnett, Sampson, Wake, Wilson

BOLIVIA LOCAL OFFICE

10 Referendum Drive

PO Box 108

Bolivia, NC 28422

910-253-4448

844-325-6830 Fax

Email: paula.thrush@usda.gov

Counties Served: Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender

ASHEBORO AREA OFFICE

Kelley Woodley, Area Director

847 Curry Drive, Suite 104

Asheboro, NC 27205

336-629-4449

844-325-6822 Fax

Email: sha.stallings-morgan@usda.gov

Counties Served: Guilford, Randolph, Davidson, Rowan, Stanly, Cabarrus, Rockingham, Caswell, Alamance

SANFORD LOCAL AREA OFFICE

2416 Tramway Road

Ernest & Ruby McSwain Extension Educ & Ag Center

Sanford, NC 27332

919-775-3407

844-325-6822 Fax

Email: margarita.marble@usda.gov

Counties Served: Lee, Chatham, Moore

ROCKINGHAM LOCAL OFFICE

123 Caroline Street

Rockingham, NC 28379

910-895-3950

844-325-6822 Fax

Email: pamela.edwards@usda.gov

Counties Served: Richmond, Montgomery, Anson, Union

HENDERSON AREA OFFICE

Shirlene Alexander, Area Director

853 S. Beckford Drive, Suite A

Henderson, NC 27536

252-438-3134 ext. 4

844-325-6826 Fax

Email: kim.hunt@usda.gov

Counties Served: Vance, Granville, Franklin, Warren, Orange, Durham, Person,

WINTON SUB AREA OFFICE

County Office Building

305 W. Tryon Street

P.O. Box 8

Winton, NC 27986

252-358-7836

844-325-6826 Fax

Email: travis.lassiter@usda.gov

Counties Served: Hertford, Gates, Chowan, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Camden, Currituck, Bertie, Northampton

HALIFAX LOCAL OFFICE

Halifax County Agriculture Complex

359 Ferrell Lane

P.O. Box 7

Halifax, NC 27839

252-583-7171 ext. 4

844-325-6826 Fax

Email: pamela.richardson@usda.gov

Counties Served: Halifax, Nash

KINSTON AREA OFFICE

Aaron Gaskins, Area Director

2044-C Hwy 11/55 South

PO Box 6189

Kinston, NC 28501-0189

252-526-9799

844-325-6827 Fax

Email: stephanie.hardison@usda.gov

Counties Served: Lenoir, Jones, Craven, Pamlico, Onslow, Carteret, Wayne, Greene, Duplin

GREENVILLE SUB AREA OFFICE

Pitt County Office Complex

403 Government Circle, Suite 3

Greenville, NC 27834

252-752-2035/252-752-2880

844-325-6827 Fax

Email: richard.gray@usda.gov

Counties Served: Pitt, Martin, Washington, Tyrrell, Dare, Beaufort, Hyde, Edgecombe