U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Oklahoma State Director Kenneth Corn invited applications for grants to help organizations improve housing, community facilities, and community and economic development in rural areas.

USDA is providing grants available under the Rural Community Development Initiative program. The program provides funding to organizations that provide financial and technical assistance for housing, community facilities, or community and economic development projects.

“This grant opportunity is a way for a nonprofit, Tribal Nation or qualifying private organizations can make a positive impact in underserved communities in rural Oklahoma,” Corn said. “President Biden is committed to uplifting all Americans regardless of one’s zip code, and by partnering with organizations sharing this belief we can make real impacts in low-income rural areas across Oklahoma.”

Eligible applicants include public (including Tribal) organizations, nonprofit organizations and qualified private organizations. Grants may be used to train sub-grantees to conduct educational training on homeownership or minority-owned business entrepreneurship. Funds also may be used to provide technical assistance to sub-grantees on:

• strategic plan development • accessing alternative funding sources

• training and resources for board operations, management, financial systems and information technology The minimum grant award is $50,000 and the maximum award amount is $500,000. Awardees must contribute matching funds equal to the amount of the grant.

Additional information on these key priorities is available at http:// www.rd.usda.gov/priority- points. Electronic applications must be submitted via Grants. gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on July 10. The deadline for paper applications is 4 p.m. local time, July 15, 2024. Additional information is available on page 48870 of the June 10, 2024 Federal Register or by contacting the Oklahoma State Office for USDA Rural Development office.