Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program

This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.

What is an eligible area?

Rural areas including cities, villages, townships and towns including Federally Recognized Tribal Lands with no more than 20,000 residents

How may funds be used?

Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and / or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses.

Examples of essential community facilities include:

• Health care facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes or assisted living facilities

• Public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, airport hangars or street improvements

• Community support services such as child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds or transitional housing

• Public safety services such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, police vehicles, fire trucks, public works vehicles, or equipment

• Educational services such as museums, libraries, or private schools

• Utility services such as telemedicine or distance learning equipment

• Local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs, or greenhouses

What are the funding priorities?

-Priority point system based on population, median household income

-Small communities with a population of 5,500 or less
-Low-income communities having a median household income below 80% of the state's nonmetropolitan median household income.