FY 2023 and FY 2024 Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants (RCB) | FR 6700 N 08

Opportunity Information: Apply for FR 6700 N 08

The FY 2023 and FY 2024 Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants (RCB) program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (CFDA 14.265) designed to strengthen rural communities by improving the organizational capacity of local groups that deliver affordable housing and community development work. The core idea is that many rural places have committed local organizations and governments, but they often lack the staffing, systems, training, and governance supports needed to consistently plan, fund, and manage complex housing and community development efforts. RCB addresses that gap by investing in capacity building so these rural entities can more effectively serve low- and moderate-income people.

A key feature of this program is that HUD does not fund the rural organizations and governments directly through this notice. Instead, HUD awards grants to qualified National Organizations that already have strong rural housing and community development expertise and a track record of providing capacity-building support across the country. Those National Organizations then work hands-on with eligible rural beneficiaries, such as rural housing development organizations, Community Development Corporations (CDCs), Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), rural local governments, and Indian tribes. The goal is to help these beneficiaries strengthen their internal operations and readiness so they can successfully carry out affordable housing and community development activities in rural areas, with benefits targeted to low-income or low- and moderate-income families and individuals.

RCB-funded activities are specifically limited to capacity-building work that strengthens organizational infrastructure, management practices, and governance. In practical terms, that means the funding is aimed at helping organizations become more effective and sustainable, rather than directly paying for bricks-and-mortar construction or development costs as a primary use. The eligible activities emphasize training, education, and technical support that improve an organization or local government’s ability to plan, execute, and evaluate community development and affordable housing initiatives. Examples of what RCB support can cover include conducting organizational assessments to identify weaknesses and opportunities; supporting strategic planning and board development so leadership and oversight are stronger; helping organizations access and implement technology improvements that modernize operations; improving how groups engage with rural community stakeholders; and strengthening performance evaluation so organizations can measure results and adjust programs over time.

The program also supports more coordinated rural planning and collaboration. Capacity-building assistance may include helping beneficiaries plan for the use of available rural resources in a comprehensive and holistic way, participate in HUD planning efforts to ensure rural needs are represented, and foster regional planning by connecting local rural plans with neighboring communities. Beyond training and planning support, the notice also references financial assistance and other related activities that may be determined by grantees in consultation with HUD leadership or designees, reinforcing that the program is flexible so long as the activities remain focused on building institutional capacity in rural-serving beneficiaries.

Eligibility to apply is narrow and geared toward established, multi-region intermediaries. Only National Organizations that are 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities (and not institutions of higher education) may apply under this competition. For this program, a National Organization must be a single nonprofit organization with ongoing experience delivering RCB-eligible capacity-building services in rural areas, specifically with rural housing organizations, local governments, and Indian tribes. That experience must be demonstrated by work performed within the last ten years in at least eight of HUD’s Federal regions. Importantly, experience in just one state within a HUD region can count toward meeting the eight-region threshold, but the overall requirement still reflects HUD’s intent to fund organizations with broad national reach. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorships are explicitly ineligible to apply for or receive awards.

From a funding standpoint, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number FR 6700 N 08, categorized as a discretionary grant in the community development activity area. HUD anticipated making about five awards, with an award ceiling of $3,500,000. The original closing date listed for submission was March 25, 2024, and the opportunity record indicates a creation date of January 22, 2024. Overall, the competition is structured to select a small number of capable national intermediaries and equip them with substantial funding to deliver training and technical assistance that measurably improves the readiness and effectiveness of rural organizations, local governments, and tribes working to expand affordable housing and strengthen rural communities for low- and moderate-income residents.

• The Department of Housing and Urban Development in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2023 and FY 2024 Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants (RCB)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 14.265.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-01-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-25. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for FR 6700 N 08

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