USDA's Final Fed Reg Notice: Rural Loans Ditch Print Forever!
Published Date: 9/16/2026
Notice
Summary
The USDA’s Rural Utilities Service is inviting rural electric cooperatives to apply for loans through the Affordable Rural Cooperative (ARC) Program for 2026. This year’s application process kicks off with a call for Letters of Interest, and future announcements will move online only—no more Federal Register notices! If you’re a rural utility looking for funding, now’s the time to act and get your paperwork in on time.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
FY2026 ARC Loans: Apply Now
If you are an eligible entity, the Rural Utilities Service is soliciting Letters of Interest (LOI) and inviting loan Applications for the Affordable Rural Cooperative (ARC) Program for fiscal year 2026. The full Notice of Funding Opportunity is on grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Number RUS-ARC-2026 and Assistance Listing Number 10.758, and program guidance is on the Agency website; this notice was published September 16, 2026.
Future ARC Notices Move Online
For years after FY2026, the ARC funding opportunity will be announced only on the Agency website and on grants.gov and will not appear in the Federal Register. If you track ARC announcements, check the RD Agency website or grants.gov instead of the Federal Register going forward.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-18173, Notice of Request for Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection: OMB No. 0570-0069 Rural Development Loan Modernization Initiative
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2026-15795, Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) Energy Program 2026
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting Letters of Interest (LOI) for loan Applications, announcing the Application process for those loans, and providing deadlines for Applications from eligible entities under the Powering Affordable Reliable Technology (PART) Energy Program for fiscal year (FY) 2026. In future years this funding opportunity will only be announced on the Agency website and grants.gov, without a Federal Register notice. Therefore, in future years, neither the funding opportunity nor reference to the funding opportunity in grants.gov will appear in the Federal Register. Please make note of this change in location of the funding announcement in your records.
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The USDA’s Rural Utilities Service is now accepting applications for the 2026 program that helps guarantee bonds and notes to improve utility infrastructure in rural areas. Starting next year, this funding opportunity will only be posted on the agency’s website, not in the Federal Register, so keep an eye online! If you’re involved in rural utilities, this is your chance to secure financial support for important projects.
2026-09555, Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Community Connect Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2026
The USDA’s Rural Utilities Service is opening up the Community Connect Grant Program for 2026 to help rural communities get better internet and tech access. Starting next year, all funding info will only be online, not in the Federal Register, so keep an eye on their website and grants.gov. If you’re part of a rural community looking for funding, now’s the time to apply and get connected!
2026-08991, Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2026
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