Grants to Provide Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation (RT) Systems
USDA is inviting applications for grants to provide Technical Assistance for passenger Rural
Transportation (RT) Systems under the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program and the
terms for such funding. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-01-02/pdf/2023-28840.pdf
Application Open Date: January 2, 2024
Close Date: April 1, 2024
Notice:
The Federal Register for the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Regulation: Tribes and Tribal Business References to Provide Equitable Access published on December 14, 2023.
What does this program do?
community projects that serve rural areas.
Grants may be made to a Public Body/Government Entity, an Indian Tribe, or a Nonprofit entity primarily serving rural areas.
- Training and technical assistance, such as project planning, business counseling and training, market research, feasibility studies, professional or/technical reports, or producer service improvements.
- Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation of buildings; plants, machinery, equipment, access for streets and roads; parking areas and utilities.
- Pollution control and abatement.
- The capitalization of revolving loan funds, including funds that will make loans for start-ups and working capital.
- Rural distance learning for job training and advancement for adult students.
- Rural transportation improvement.
- Community economic development.
- Technology-based economic development.
- Feasibility studies and business plans.
- Leadership and entrepreneur training.
- Rural business incubators.
- Long-term business strategic planning.
- Community economic development.
- Technology-based economic development.
- Feasibility studies and business plans.
- Leadership and entrepreneur training.
- Rural business incubators.
- Long-term business strategic planning.
- Evidence showing job creation at local businesses.
- Percent of non-federal funding committed to the project.
- Economic need in the area to be served.
- Consistency with local economic development priorities.
- Experience of the grantee with similar efforts.
- Applications are accepted through USDA Rural Development’s local or state offices. Applicants are advised to view program information specific to your local or state office to learn about local application timelines, concept paper requirements, etc.
- Grant awardees will need to complete required paperwork and comply with the terms and conditions of the award. Contact your local or state office for details.
- Contact your local office.
Citations and other information may be subject to change, please always consult the program instructions listed in this section.
Instructions:
2021 RBDG Application Template
DUNS Request Step-by-Step Instructions
Forms:
• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance
• SF-424A, Budget Information Non-Construction Programs
• SF-424B, Assurances - Non-Construction Projects Only
• SF-424C, Budget Information -Construction Programs
• SF-424D, Assurances - Construction Projects Only
• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
• RD 400-1, Equal Opportunity Agreement
• RD 400-4, Assurance Agreement
• AD 1047, Certification Regarding Debarment
• AD 1048, Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion –
Lower Tier Covered Transactions
• AD 1049, Certification Regarding Drug Free Workplace
• AD-3030, Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquency Status for Corporate Applicants
• RD Inst. 1940-Q, Exhibit A-1, Certification for Contracts, Grants, & Loans
• Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants
• RBDG Applicant-Grantee Certifications
• SD - RBDG Applicant’s Guide to Providing Environmental Review Information
• SD – RBDG Certification for Rural Development Assistance to an Employee, Relative or Associate
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 Business Programs Specialist before attempting to fill out any forms or applications. This will save you valuable time in the process.
Preliminary Actions Required
To complete an application for this program, you must be pre-registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). Neither of these applications cost money, but they can take time so be sure to get this taken care of right away. If you are already registered with these systems, you do not need to do it again.
Special Alert for SAM Registrants
Last year, we alerted our vendor community to third party companies offering to help you update information contained within the System for Award Management (www.SAM.gov) website, for a fee. Your SAM registration contains sensitive business information, including your banking information and other sensitive information, so your login and password should not be shared with anyone outside your company. As a reminder, the use of the System for Award Management website is free to use and update, and the Commodity Procurement Staff does not see a reason to pay anyone to provide that service.
Secondly, we have just become aware of a couple of scam emails that offer to “help companies start the renewal process online” or suggest that “Your Federal Profile is Almost Complete. Immediate Action Required!” In both cases, your free access to SAM.gov will resolve any questions you may have regarding your registration in SAM.gov. As you know SAM.gov requires an annual recertification and sends out email reminders prior to the expiration, and again, updates should be handled by company employees. Furthermore, if your registration is not complete, you may login to SAM.gov to make that determination for yourself.
Please remember that SAM.gov is not affiliated with the USDA and is a government-wide website not maintained by our Agency. If you have any questions regarding access or how to use SAM, please contact their help desk at 866-606-8220, option #1.
There are no additional requirements at the national level. If there are additional state-specific requirements, they will be listed above.
Grant Konechne, Rural Business and Cooperative Programs Director
200 4th Street SW, Federal Bldg. Rm. 210
Huron, SD 57350
Phone: (605) 352-1108
Fax: (855) 262-1940
Wyatt Stevens, Specialist
200 4th St SW Federal Building, Rm. 210
Huron, SD 57350
Serving: Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Clark, Codington,
Day, Deuel, Edmunds, Grant, Hamlin, Hand, Hyde, Kingsbury,
Marshall, McPherson, Roberts, and Spink Counties.
Phone: (605) 352-1111
Facsimile: 855-262-1940
Lance Lockwood, Specialist
414 East Stumer Road, Suite 200
Rapid City, SD 57701
Serving: Bennett, Butte, Custer, Fall River, Harding,
Jackson, Lawrence, Meade, Oglala Lakota, Perkins,
and Pennington Counties.
Phone: (605) 858-6681
Fax: (855) 262-1943
Clark Guthmiller, Specialist
1717 N. Lincoln Avenue, Suite 102
Pierre, SD 57501
Serving: Campbell, Corson, Dewey, Haakon, Hughes,
Jones, Lyman, Mellette, Potter, Stanley, Sully, Todd,
Tripp, Walworth and Ziebach Counties.
Phone: (605) 301-3409
Fax: (855) 262-1942
Vacant, Specialist
Carolyn Bloodgood, Technician
200 4th Street SW, Federal Bldg. Rm. 210
Huron, SD 57350
Phone: (605) 352-1144
Fax: (855) 262-1940
Peggy Ryan, Loan Technician
1717 North Lincoln Avenue
Suite 102
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 301-3407
Fax: (855) 262-1942