Grant Opportunities, Financial Assistance, Economic Development 6 Jan 2025 usda, financial assistance, grants, rural development, distance learning, telemedicine

💰Funding Opportunity for Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the acceptance of applications under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program for fiscal year (FY) 2025, subject to the availability of funding. This notice is being issued prior to passage of a FY 2025 Appropriations Act in order to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage financing, prepare and submit their applications, and give the Agency time to process applications within FY 2025. Based on FY 2024 appropriated funding, the Agency estimates that approximately $40 million will be available for FY 2025. Successful applications will be selected by the Agency for funding and subsequently awarded to the extent that funding may ultimately be made available through appropriations. All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their applications.

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Financial Assistance, Business Incentives 6 Jan 2025 agriculture, usda, rural development, funding opportunities, utility infrastructure

💰Deadline Extension for Section 313A Guarantees Funding Opportunity

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing the extension and reopening of the Guarantees for Bonds and Notes Issued for Utility Infrastructure Purposes Program (the 313A Program) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 application window through January 31, 2025.

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Financial Assistance, Compliance, Business Development 6 Jan 2025 compliance, agriculture, usda, grants, business support, renewable fuels
Financial Assistance, Regulatory Requirements 3 Jan 2025 credit, fair housing, flood insurance, manufactured homes, environmental impact statements, home improvement, loan programs, grant programs-housing and community development, compliance, rural housing, usda, financial assistance, reporting and recordkeeping requirements, housing, administrative practice and procedure, business and industry, conflict of interests, low and moderate income housing, rural areas, loan programs-housing and community development, mortgages

🏠USDA Updates Rules for Manufactured Housing Financing Options

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is amending the current regulations for the Single Family Housing (SFH) Direct Loan Program and the SFH Guaranteed Loan Program. The intent of this final rule is to allow the Agency to give borrowers increased purchase options within a competitive market and increase adequate housing along with an enhanced customer experience with the SFH programs.

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Regulatory Compliance, Environmental Impact 3 Jan 2025 compliance, agriculture, environmental impact, usda, poultry, avian influenza

🦠Reopening Comment Period for Avian Influenza EIS - USDA Notice

We are reopening the comment period for our notice advising the public that a draft programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) has been prepared by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service relative to our response activities to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry operations located throughout the United States, including the U.S. territories. The draft EIS analyzes and compares the potential environmental effects of using three action alternatives during an HPAI outbreak. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

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Regulation, Compliance, Agriculture 3 Jan 2025 snap, quality control, agriculture, regulatory compliance, usda, reporting and recordkeeping requirements, grant programs-social programs, incorporation by reference, fns handbook

📜Proposed Rule for SNAP Quality Control Handbook by USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (the Department) is issuing this proposed rule to formally incorporate by reference the FNS Handbook 310 into SNAP regulations. By doing so, the Department is ensuring that the public receives a notice and comment period prior to implementation of revisions to the Handbook, which is the standard operating procedure manual for conducting quality control (QC) reviews of SNAP cases. The Department also proposes to remove reference to FNS Handbook 311 until it can be incorporated by reference. The Department requests comment on these proposed provisions.

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