Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Rural Business Development Grant Program To Provide Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation Systems for Fiscal Year 2025
Published Date: 1/6/2025
Notice
Summary
The USDA is offering about $750,000 in grants for 2025 to help improve rural transportation systems, including special support for Tribal lands. If you run or support rural transit, you can apply for funding to get technical help, but you must submit your application by April 7, 2025. This is a great chance to boost rural travel options and get expert assistance with your projects!
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
About $750,000 in FY2025 Grants
USDA estimates approximately $750,000 will be available in FY 2025 to fund technical assistance for rural passenger transportation systems. Awards are competitive and are anticipated to be made prior to September 30, 2025, with project performance running October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
Award Caps and Tribal Set-Aside
The Agency will award up to $500,000 for rural transportation (RT) systems projects and up to $250,000 for projects serving Federally Recognized Native American Tribes (FRNAT). For FRNAT grants, at least 75 percent of the benefits of the project must be received by members of FRNATs, and applicants proposing Tribal projects should include Tribal documentation such as a Tribal council resolution.
Only Qualified National Organizations Eligible
Only qualified national organizations with experience providing nationwide technical assistance and training for rural passenger transportation are eligible to apply; an applicant may meet the national requirement by partnering with others only if the applicant retains ultimate control of grant administration. Grants will be made to these qualified national organizations.
Permitted Uses and Funding Restrictions
Grant funds are for technical assistance only — no construction or equipment purchases are permitted and no foreign travel is allowed. Applicants without an approved indirect cost rate may elect a 15 percent indirect cost allowance, and pre-Federal award costs are allowed only with prior written Agency approval. Funds may not be used to provide awards to corporations with certain unpaid federal tax liabilities or recent felony convictions as described.
Priority Points and Competitive Advantages
USDA may assign discretionary priority points to initial grant applications for projects that meet Secretary priorities: projects in highly distressed communities (distress score ≥ 80), projects serving communities with Social Vulnerability Index score ≥ 0.75, federally recognized Tribes or projects where at least 50% of beneficiaries are Tribal members, projects in listed Rural Partner Network (RPN) states, and projects in Disadvantaged or Energy Communities for climate work. RPN Networks currently exist in Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
No Cost Share or Matching Required
There are no cost-sharing or matching requirements associated with these grants, so applicants do not need to provide matching funds to receive an award under this notice.
Application and Technical Assistance Deadlines
Completed grant applications must be received in the USDA RD State Office by 4:30 p.m. (local time) on April 7, 2025, to be eligible; applications received after that deadline will be ineligible. Requests for technical assistance or application guidance must be made prior to February 5, 2025.
SAM Registration and UEI Required
At the time of application each applicant must have an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration and a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI); the Agency will not make an award until SAM requirements are met and the UEI is provided.
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