FY 2021 and FY 2022 Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants (RCB) | FR 6600 N 08

Opportunity Information: Apply for FR 6600 N 08

The FY 2021 and FY 2022 Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants (RCB) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designed to strengthen the organizations that deliver affordable housing and community development work in rural America. The core goal is not to directly finance construction or specific housing projects, but to build the long-term capacity of rural-serving entities so they can plan, manage, and carry out affordable housing and community development activities more effectively, especially activities that benefit low-income and low- to moderate-income people living in rural areas.

A key feature of this program is how the funding is structured. HUD awards funds to National Organizations that already have proven expertise in rural housing and rural community development. These national grantees then work directly with eligible beneficiaries on the ground to provide the training, technical assistance, and other support needed to improve performance and expand impact. The eligible beneficiaries that ultimately receive capacity-building support include rural housing development organizations, Community Development Corporations (CDCs), Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), rural local governments, and Indian tribes. In other words, the program uses experienced national intermediaries to strengthen local and tribal institutions that are closest to rural communities and best positioned to deliver results over time.

Program-funded activities are specifically limited to efforts that improve organizational infrastructure, management systems, and governance. The emphasis is on building durable organizational capability: better leadership and oversight, stronger internal systems, improved planning, and clearer accountability so rural organizations can successfully execute community development and affordable housing work. Rather than paying for routine operations or unrelated services, the program targets improvements that increase an organization s ability to design, implement, and sustain rural housing and community development initiatives that serve low- and moderate-income households.

The eligible activities described in the notice center on training, education, and hands-on support tailored to rural organizations needs. Examples include conducting organizational assessments to identify operational gaps and strengths, supporting strategic planning so organizations can set priorities and align resources, and improving board development so governance is more effective and compliant. The program also supports access to and implementation of technological improvements, recognizing that many rural organizations need better tools for data management, communications, compliance tracking, and program delivery. In addition, it encourages deeper engagement with rural community stakeholders, which can help ensure that local plans reflect real needs and build broader buy-in.

Capacity building under RCB also includes helping organizations evaluate the performance of current and planned community efforts, so they can measure what is working and adjust when it is not. Another focus is planning for the use of available rural resources in a comprehensive and holistic way, which matters in rural areas where funding streams and partners can be limited and coordination is often essential. The program further promotes participation in HUD planning efforts to ensure rural communities are represented and rural needs are assessed, and it supports regional planning by connecting local rural community plans with neighboring communities, helping small jurisdictions work together where shared solutions make sense.

In addition to training and technical assistance, the notice references financial assistance as an eligible component, along with other activities that HUD may allow as determined by the grantees in consultation with the Secretary or the Secretary s designee. This leaves some flexibility for national grantees to propose additional capacity-building approaches, as long as they remain aligned with the program s purpose and the statutory and HUD requirements governing the grant.

From the funding announcement details, this opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number FR 6600 N 08 under CFDA 14.265 (Community Development). HUD anticipated making about five awards, with an award ceiling of $2,500,000. The opportunity was posted on August 10, 2022, and the original closing date listed is October 11, 2022, with an application deadline of 11:59:59 PM Eastern time. The eligible applicant category is listed as Others, with specifics provided in the full eligibility section of the official notice, consistent with the program model that typically funds national intermediary organizations that then deliver capacity building services to rural beneficiaries.

Overall, the RCB program is best understood as an investment in the organizational strength of rural housing and community development institutions. By improving governance, planning, technology, stakeholder engagement, evaluation, and coordination, the program aims to help rural organizations become more capable and resilient, ultimately leading to stronger affordable housing and community development outcomes for low- and moderate-income residents in rural communities.

• The US Department of Housing and Urban Development in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2021 and FY 2022 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 Aug 10, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 11, 2022 The application deadline is 115959 PM Eastern Standard time on. (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 $2,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for FR 6600 N 08

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