USDA Public-Private Partnership Accepting Technical Assistance Applications for Rural Capacity Building
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2019 – Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that USDA and four of its partners are accepting applications from rural communities and regions for technical assistance to implement economic development planning projects.
USDA and its partners will review the applications as part of the Rural Economic Development Innovation (REDI) initiative. USDA is partnering with the National Association of Counties, Rural Community Assistance Partnership, McClure Engineering Company, and Purdue University Extension/Community & Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky.
Purdue University and the University of Kentucky have joined forces to coordinate and implement the Rural Economic Development Innovation (REDI) Initiative in the South and the North Central regions of the US. The Purdue team will be represented by members of the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) and the Purdue Extension Community Development Program, while the University of Kentucky team will be comprised of individuals who are part of the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK). The Purdue/Kentucky team will provide support to rural areas that are committed to building and implementing regional (multi-county) development plans.
Successful applicants will receive free technical assistance to develop and implement rural economic development plans. Rural communities with 50,000 or fewer people are eligible to apply. Applications will be scored, reviewed and selected on a competitive basis.
Interested parties can learn more about this initiative during a webinar on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, at 1:00 PM EST.
Please contact RD.Innovation@osec.usda.gov if you have any questions. The application deadline is April 5, 2019.
