The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About08-01-23 Correspondence - USDA - MONTANA RURAL EXPLORER - AUGUST 2023From:USDA Rural Development MontanaTo:AgendaSubject:[EXTERNAL]MONTANA RURAL EXPLORER - AUGUST 2023Date:Tuesday, August 1, 2023 8:40:47 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Header MONTANA RURAL EXPLORER AUGUST 2023 Welcome to the MONTANA RURAL EXPLORER, USDA Rural Development in Montana's monthly newsletter with Chorbly current information about our business, community facilities, energy, electric, housing, telecommunication, and water and environmental programs. Thanks for checking us out. Let us know how we can serve you better. Feedback welcome HERE. From Kathleen... Funding Opportunities Upcoming Webinars Tribal Resources and Information Montana RD News In this Issue FROM KATHLEEN Montana SD Summer is starting to wind down, but opportunities are heating up! We have many new and existing programs that expand possibilities for rural and Tribal businesses, communities, and families across the state. Read on to learn more about how our team at USDA Rural Development in Montana is working to deliver for you! In our true Montana spirit of neighbors helping neighbors, we have two new programs designed to aid recovery from flooding in 2022 - the Single-Family Housing Disaster Repair Grant Pilot Program expands eligibility for low-income homeowners to access funding to rebuild or relocate, and the Community Facilities Supplemental Disaster Repair Grants help repair essential facilities in eligible rural and Tribal areas. We also have a new pilot program to expand homeownership opportunities for eligible residents on Tribal lands. On the energy front, agricultural producers and rural small businesses continue to "REAP" the benefits from our Rural Energy for America Program. Expanded application deadlines now offer more opportunities to lower costs by applying for funding to install renewable energy systems or improve energy efficiency. We are also accepting letters of interest (LOIs) for funding through the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) utility-scale renewable energy generation programs. I hope you take a few minutes to read about these and other programs available through Team RD! Together, America Prospers! kw signature FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program The Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program helps rural Americans transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy. New ERA program funding is available to member-owned rural electric cooperatives, which have been the backbone of America’s rural power delivery for nearly a century. Letters of Interest required by 8/31/2023. To apply, click HERE. Contact denver.schlaeppi@usda.gov for more information. New ERA Informational Webinars Webinar 1: 8/15/2023, noon (MT) Register HERE. Webinar 2: 8/29/2023, noon (MT). Register HERE. Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Advancing clean, affordable, and reliable electric energy in rural America. USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will forgive up to 60% of loans for renewable energy projects that use wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, or biomass, as well as for renewable energy storage projects. Letters of Interest required by 9/29/2023. Contact denver.schlaeppi@usda.gov for more information. Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Guaranteed loan and grant funding for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency upgrades. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficiency equipment and new system loans to support agricultural production and processing. Application deadlines: 9/30/2023, 12/31/2023, 3/31/2024, 6/30/2024, and 9/30/2024. Contact kathy.archer@usda.gov. Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Repair Grants and Disaster Repair Grant Pilot Program USDA has TWO programs available for eligible low-income Montana homeowners in presidentially declared disaster areas to repair homes damaged by flooding in 2022 and future natural disasters through July 18, 2025. Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Repair Grants are available to low-income homeowners in presidentially declared disaster areas to repair homes damaged by flooding in calendar year 2022. Application Deadline: Open. Single Family Housing Disaster Repair Grant Pilot Program expands eligibility for low-income homeowners in any presidentially declared disaster areas to receive grant funding. Pilot Program Ends: July 18, 2025. Contact katina.uecker@usda.gov for more information. Water Infrastructure Disaster Grant Repair Program Grants available to help rural and Tribal communities repair water infrastructure damaged by presidentially declared disasters due to flooding in calendar year 2022. Projects in Carbon, Flathead, Park, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure and Yellowstone may be eligible. Application Deadline: Open. For more information call (406) 585- 2520. Community Facilities Supplemental Disaster Repair Grants Supplemental grant funding to repair essential facilities in eligible rural and Tribal communities damaged by flooding in calendar year 2022. Affected areas in Montana include communities in Carbon, Flathead, Park, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure, and Yellowstone Counties. Federal Register Information. Application period: Open. For more information call (406) 585-2520. OTHER AGENCY INFORMATION - EPA Region 8 Environmental Justice Technical Assistance Centers Program Grant competition for a Region 8-specific Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center to help Region 8 communities and other environmental justice stakeholders access federal technical assistance and resources to address environmental and energy justice concerns. Application deadline: 9/11/2023. Informational Webinar: 8/10/2023, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. (MT). Register HERE. WEBINARS Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Interested in funding to install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements to your rural small business? Join USDA RD in Montana business program specialists as they discuss eligibility requirements and walk through the application process for REAP funding opportunities. Webinar: 8/24/2023, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (MT). REGISTER HERE. Rural Development Cooperative Services Interagency Working Group Series Meetings designed to foster cooperative development and ensure coordination with federal agencies and cooperative organizations. Panels include private sector and Federal government representatives discussing program needs and brainstorming ideas for collaborative solutions. Upcoming Working Groups Child Care Co-ops: 8/11/2023, noon - 1:30 p.m. (MT). Join Meeting HERE. Real Estate Co-ops: 9/15/2023, noon - 1:30 p.m. (MT). Join Meeting HERE. Co-op Ecosystems: 10/13/2023, noon - 1:30 p.m. (MT). Join Meeting HERE. TRIBAL INFORMATION Tribal Relations Tribal Advisory Committee Nominations USDA is establishing a Tribal Advisory Committee and is requesting nominations for membership. The committee is designed to remove barriers to service for Tribal governments, citizens and Tribal nations. Its function will be invaluable in providing recommendations on USDA programs and policies, including through an annual report to Congress. Nomination period runs through 8/12/2023. Submit nominations HERE. Single Family Housing 502 Guaranteed Loans on Tribal Lands Two pilot programs, Tribal Property Valuation Pilot Program and Tribal Rehabilitation Pilot Program, provide flexible options to obtain financing on Tribal lands, one with a flexible appraisal option and the other permitting rehabilitation loans for homeowners. The programs will evaluate existing regulations, expand opportunities for economic development, and improve quality of life in Tribal communities. READ MORE HERE. 502 and 504 Single Family Housing Grant and Loan Assistance USDA RD Single Family Housing Specialist Cindy Coleman will be at the following locations to answer questions and help fill out applications: Chippewa Cree Housing Authority: 8/9/2023, 8/10/2023, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Fort Peck Housing Authority: 8/15/2023, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Contact cindy.coleman@usda.gov for more information. Tribal College Initiative Grant Program Funding available for 1994 Land Grant Institutions (Tribal Colleges) to make capital improvements to educational facilities and to purchase equipment. Application period: Open. For more information call (406) 585-2520. USDA Requests Tribal Flags for the Hall of Tribal Nations In recognition of the diplomatic nation-to-nation relationship, between tribes and the federal government, USDA is proud to host a Hall of Tribal Nations, akin to our sister agency the Department of Interior – Bureau of Indian Affairs. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack shared a video dedicating this new space during the November 2021 White House Tribal Nations Conference. USDA invites more tribal nations to contribute flags to this growing collection. Please contact tribal.relations@usda.gov to learn more or send your 3ft. x 5ft. tribal flag to: U.S. Department of Agriculture Attention: Tribal Flags/Office of Tribal Relations 1400 Independence Avenue SW Room 200A J.L. Whitten Building Washington, DC 20250 USDA RD TRIBAL RELATIONS PAGE MONTANA RD NEWS New Clinic Increases Access to Health Care in Marias Health Care Rural Montana What happens to a vacant big-box retail space in a rural community with leaders who have a vision and passion for service? In the case of Shelby, Montana, rural residents here and beyond will benefit with increased access to quality, affordable health care at a new, state-of-the-art clinic. READ FULL STORY HERE. USDA Launches Pilot Program to Help Homeowners in Rural Montana Repair Homes Damaged by Flooding in 2022 and Future Natural Disasters Bozeman, Mont., July 18, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development in Montana State Director Kathleen Williams announced today the launch of a pilot program that will expand access to loans and grants for low- income Montana homeowners so they can repair homes damaged by flooding in calendar year 2022 and take steps to mitigate future natural disasters. READ FULL RELEASE HERE. USDA Grant Funding Available to Help Repair Community Facilities in Rural Montana Damaged by Flooding in 2022 Bozeman, Mont., July 20, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development in Montana State Director Kathleen Williams announced today the availability of grants for rural Montana communities to help repair essential facilities damaged by flooding in 2022. READ FULL RELEASE HERE. USDA Invests More Than $20 Million to Support Rural Health Care in Montana Bozeman, Mont., July 25, 2023– U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development in Montana State Director Kathleen Williams announced today a total of $20 million in recent investments in 11 public organizations, non-profits, and rural health care facilities in Montana through the Emergency Rural Health Care (ERHC) grant program over the last two years. READ FULL RELEASE HERE. PUBLIC NOTICE: 30-Day Public Inspection Period and Comments Received from USDA RD Periodic Review of Rural Areas in Montana Housing Programs - On March 8, 2023, USDA Rural Development in Montana issued a 90-day public notice informing the public that USDA was conducting a periodic review of all areas under its jurisdiction to identify areas that no longer qualify as rural for housing programs. This public notice listed communities under review for potential eligibility changes and provided the public with a link to submit comments or concerns regarding any potential loss of eligibility. READ FULL NOTICE HERE. For more information about Montana RD, follow us on Twitter @Montana_RD or Visit our website at USDA RD MONTANA Header Questions? Contact Us 2229 Boot Hill Court Bozeman, MT 59715 Phone: (406) 585-2580 STAY CONNECTED: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Preferences | Help USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately. This email was sent to agenda@bozeman.net by USDA Rural Development · 1400 Independence Ave SW ·Washington DC 20250 · 800-670-6553