Please provide read all information before providing all requested information.

The following accounts are eligible for funding:

Department of Agriculture Community Facilities Grants

Grants to purchase, construct, or improve essential community facilities, to purchase equipment, and pay
other related project expenses. Essential community facilities include, but are not limited to, healthcare
facilities, public facilities, public safety measures, educational services, or other community support
services. Examples of eligible projects include; medical or dental clinics, towns halls, courthouses,
childcare centers, police or fire departments, public works vehicles, or distance learning equipment. Any
project must serve a rural area as specified in 7 CFR 3570.53, and the Member’s request must
demonstrate community support.

Such requests are also subject to the maximum grant assistance limitations specified in 7 CFR
3570.63(b). Community Facilities grants generally cannot be used to pay initial operating expenses or
annual recurring expenses, refinance existing debt, pay interest, build or repair facilities in non-rural
areas, or pay for construction costs of facilities that will be used for commercial rental space.


Department of Agriculture ReConnect Program

ReConnect broadband pilot grants facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. Grants funds can be
used for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to  provide broadband service to rural areas without sufficient broadband access, defined as 10 Mbps
downstream and 1 Mbps upstream.

The area must be rural and lack sufficient access to broadband service. A rural area is any area which is
not located within: (1) A city, town, or incorporated area that has a population of greater than 20,000
inhabitants; or (2) an urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to a city or town that has a population of
greater than 50,000 inhabitants. Sufficient access to broadband is defined as greater than 90% of any
rural area in which households have fixed, terrestrial broadband service delivering at least 10 Mbps
downstream and 1 Mbps upstream. Mobile and satellite services will not be considered in making the
determination of sufficient access to broadband.

Stand-alone middle-mile projects are not eligible under the ReConnect Program. However, middle-mile
facilities are eligible if they are needed to bring sufficient broadband service to all premises in the area.
Members are strongly encouraged to include information in their requests, such as the number of
households, businesses, or farms will be served in the area, what the performance of the service to be
offered will be, and whether healthcare or educational facilities will be served.


Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Buildings and Facilities

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) owns and operates laboratories and facilities across the United
States. Many of these laboratories/facilities are decades old, have outlived their functional lifespan, and
are badly in need of major repairs, renovation, or replacement. Facility requests must be for ARS-owned
facilities or for facilities that will enhance ongoing ARS work. Requests can assist in the acquisition of
land, construction, repair, improvement, extension, alteration, and purchase of fixed equipment or
facilities as necessary to carry out the agricultural research programs of the Department of Agriculture.

In the budget section, please provide the following:
1. Please provide a budget breakdown
2. Sources of Federal and Non-Federal Funds
3. Please provide a history of federal funding for the project, if any. Include both formula funds and any discretionary grants and fiscal years
4. If the request does not fully fund the project, describe where the remaining funding comes from to complete the project