533 Housing Preservation Grant
US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
Grant intended to make repairs to homes of low-income residents in rural areas.
About the Award:
Grant intended to make repairs to homes of low-income residents in rural areas.
Example Eligible IAQ Activities:
Heat Source Replacement, Insulation, Water Disposal Systems, HVAC Upgrades
Funding Details:
- For FY 2019, total funding was $15,888,420
- Average grant of $25,000 to $50,000
Grant
National
Typical Application Period: Application dates announced upon release of NOSA via Federal Register. For 2019, May to July.
Contact:
Dependent on Region - Contact your local Rural Development Office
Rural Community Development Initiative Grants (RCDI)
US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
Grants for organizations and tribal governments to support housing and community development subgrantees in rural areas.
About the Award:
RCDI grants are awarded to qualified intermediary organizations, including nonprofits and federally recognized tribes, that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development that will support the community. Applicants are required to match funds equal to grant rewarded, and in-kind contributions may not be used as matching funds. This grant cannot be used for direct construction or remediation.
Example Eligible IAQ Activities:
Training, Technical Assistance, Education, Energy Audit Training
Funding Details:
- Total FY 2019 Funding: $6,000,000
- Estimated Number of Awards: 34
- Minimum Grant: $50,000
- Maximum Grant: $250,000
Grant
National
Typical Application Period: Application dates announced upon release of NOSA via Federal Register. For 2019, Applications accepted from March to June, though application periods vary year to year.
Contact:
Dependent on Region - Contact your local Rural Development Office
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Energy Audit & Renewable Energy Development Assistance
US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
Grants and loans for agricultural producers and small businesses to conduct and promote energy audits, and provide renewable energy development assistance.
About the Award:
This grant is intended to aid with the establishment of a program that assists agricultural producers and rural small businesses with evaluating energy efficiency and the potential to incorporate renewable energy technologies into their operations. This can include energy efficiency audits and renewable energy technical assistance. This program is intended to serve commercial and industrial entities, not residential buildings.
Example Eligible IAQ Activities:
Energy Audits, Technical Assistance
Funding Details:
- 4% of all Rural Energy for America Programs annual funding is distributed to this program.
- Total Program funding is approximately $50 million with an estimated 1,000 awards.
- Maximum grant total cannot exceed $100,000
Grant
National
Typical Application Period: Rolling
Notes:
Agricultural producers or small businesses that receive energy audits through this program must pay at least 25% of the cost of the energy audit. Rural utility providers are only eligible if they are considered electrical cooperatives or tribal entities.
Contact:
Dependent on Region - Contact your State Energy Coordinator
Section 502 Direct Loan Program
US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
Loans for low-income residents to fund housing repair and purchasing a new home.
About the Award:
This program assists low- and very-low-income applicants obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing in eligible rural areas by providing payment assistance to increase an applicant’s repayment ability.
Example Eligible IAQ Activities:
Healthy Homes Construction, Weatherization, Insulation, Heat Source Replacement, Ventilation, HVAC Upgrade
Funding Details:
Amount of assistance allowed is dependent on adjusted family income up to 33 year payback period (38 years for very low income).
Loan
National
Typical Application Period: Rolling
Notes:
Recipients of program loans hoping to fund a project on tribal trust land are required to provide a deed of trust as a form of security for the loan. As this part of the application process can be difficult to navigate, close collaboration between loan recipients, USDA, BIA, and other involved parties is recommended.
Section 504 Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants
US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
Loans for very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.
About the Award:
Loans for very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.
Example Eligible IAQ Activities:
Heat Source Replacement, Mold Remediation, Ventilation Installation, Insulation Improvements
Funding Details:
- Maximum grant is $10,000
- Maximum loan is $40,000 (can be combined)
- Loans can be repaid over 20 years
National
Program Highlights:
In 2014, Marilyn Wagner, a tribal elder on the Warm Springs Reservation received a $6,846 grant to remediate health and safety hazards in her home. This included installing a new wood stove chimney and remediating moisture and rot issues with the ceiling and floor tiles. [Source]
Typical Application Period: Rolling
Notes:
Recipients of program loans hoping to fund a project on tribal trust land are required to provide a deed of trust as a form of security for the loan. As this part of the application process can be difficult to navigate, close collaboration between loan recipients, USDA, BIA, and other involved parties is recommended.
Contact:
Dependent on Region - Contact your local Rural Development Office
Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program
US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
Collaborative grants for tribal colleges and universities to research environmental challenges impacting agricultural communities.
About the Award:
This grant is available to 1994 Tribal Colleges (designated by 2018 farm bill) that are looking to build institutional research capacity through applied projects that address student educational needs and meet community, reservation or regional challenges. Eligible institutions may propose projects in any discipline of the food, agricultural or natural resource sciences. Grants are collaborative, meaning projects must involve at least one additional partner. Projects focused on indoor air quality must demonstrate that indoor air quality affects farmers and ranchers within their community.
Example Eligible IAQ Activities:
Improving indoor air quality for tribal farmers and ranchers, ventilation, Chemical Changeout
Funding Details:
- For FY 2019, $3.7 million will be awarded.
- 80% of applications are funded.
- Minimum 2019 Grant: $60,000
- Maximum 2019 Grant: $500,000.
National
Program Highlights:
There has yet to be a project completed with a focus on indoor air.
Typical Application Period: For 2019: June through early November; For 2018: March through April
Contact:
erin.riley@usda.gov
