Opportunity Information: Apply for RD RBS 22 01 RISE
The Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program is a competitive federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Utilities Service, designed to help distressed rural and energy communities build the local capacity needed to create better-paying jobs and stimulate new business growth. The core idea behind RISE is to fund "jobs accelerator partnerships" that can organize people, institutions, and resources in a region around a shared strategy for economic development. These partnerships are expected to help communities identify their strongest local assets (such as workforce strengths, industry clusters, natural resources, research capacity, or existing employers), then turn those assets into measurable job creation, business formation, and stronger regional economic performance.
Funding is awarded through a discretionary, competitive process (Funding Opportunity Number: RD RBS 22 01 RISE; Assistance Listing/CFDA: 10.755). Individual grants range from a minimum of $500,000 to a maximum of $2,000,000 per project. RISE generally can cover up to 80 percent of eligible project costs, meaning applicants should plan for a non-federal share to cover the remaining portion. The opportunity anticipated around 10 awards. While the listing also shows an "Award Ceiling" of $10,000,000, the program description clarifies the per-grant cap at $2,000,000.
RISE funds can be used for a practical mix of facility, operations, and program costs tied to an innovation-driven jobs strategy in a rural area. Allowable uses include costs directly connected to purchasing or constructing an innovation center in a rural community, along with the operational expenses needed to run that center. Eligible operational costs can include equipment purchases, office supplies, and certain administrative costs, including salaries, as long as those costs are directly tied to carrying out the funded project. The grant can also support the design and delivery of programs that are carried out at, or in direct partnership with, job accelerators, which is a key emphasis of the program. In addition, reasonable and customary travel expenses are allowed when they are directly related to the job accelerator work and meet federal cost principles, including the travel rules under 2 CFR 200.474. Utilities and other operating expenses for the innovation center and job accelerator programs are also included as eligible costs. For overall administration, the grantee can charge administrative costs, but those costs are capped at no more than 10 percent of the total grant amount over the life of the project.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that could plausibly anchor or participate in a regional jobs accelerator partnership. Eligible applicants include county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The program is categorized across many public purpose areas, reflecting its flexible regional development focus, including agriculture, business and commerce, community development, education, employment and job training, energy, environment, health, natural resources, transportation, and science and technology/R&D, among others.
In short, RISE is aimed at helping rural regions move beyond isolated projects and instead build coordinated, innovation-centered ecosystems that can generate high-wage employment and new companies. Successful proposals typically align facilities (like an innovation center), operational capacity (staff and core functions), and accelerator-linked programming into one integrated strategy that clearly benefits a rural area, leverages local strengths, and is structured to deliver measurable economic outcomes.Apply for RD RBS 22 01 RISE
- The Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service in the agriculture, business and commerce, community development, education, employment, labor and training, energy, environment, food and nutrition, health, natural resources, opportunity zone benefits, regional development, science and technology and other research and development, transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Innovation Stronger Economy Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.755.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 20, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 19, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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RISE Grant Program FAQs
What is the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program?
The Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program is a competitive federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Utilities Service. It is designed to help distressed rural and energy communities build the local capacity needed to create better-paying jobs and stimulate new business growth.
What is the main goal of RISE?
RISE focuses on funding "jobs accelerator partnerships" that organize people, institutions, and resources around a shared regional strategy for economic development. The aim is to help rural regions convert local strengths into measurable outcomes like job creation, business formation, and stronger regional economic performance.
What is meant by a "jobs accelerator partnership" under RISE?
Under RISE, a jobs accelerator partnership is a coordinated effort where regional stakeholders work together on an innovation-driven jobs strategy. The partnership is expected to identify strong local assets (for example workforce strengths, industry clusters, natural resources, research capacity, or existing employers) and translate those assets into measurable economic results.
Who runs the RISE program?
The program is run by the USDA Rural Utilities Service.
Is RISE a competitive grant or a formula grant?
RISE is awarded through a discretionary, competitive process.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for RISE?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RD RBS 22 01 RISE.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for RISE?
The Assistance Listing/CFDA number is 10.755.
How much funding can a single RISE grant provide?
Individual grants range from a minimum of $500,000 to a maximum of $2,000,000 per project.
I saw an award ceiling of $10,000,000. Does that mean I can apply for $10,000,000?
The listing shows an "Award Ceiling" of $10,000,000, but the program description clarifies that the per-grant cap is $2,000,000.
How many awards does RISE expect to make?
The opportunity anticipated around 10 awards.
What percentage of project costs can RISE cover?
RISE generally can cover up to 80 percent of eligible project costs.
Does RISE require matching funds or a non-federal share?
Yes. Since RISE generally covers up to 80 percent of eligible project costs, applicants should plan for a non-federal share to cover the remaining portion.
What types of projects does RISE support?
RISE supports integrated, innovation-centered strategies in rural areas that combine facilities (such as an innovation center), operational capacity (staff and core functions), and accelerator-linked programming. The overall intent is to build coordinated regional ecosystems that lead to measurable job creation and new business growth.
Can RISE funds be used to purchase or construct a facility?
Yes. Allowable uses include costs directly connected to purchasing or constructing an innovation center in a rural community.
Can RISE pay for operating costs of an innovation center?
Yes. RISE can support operational expenses needed to run an innovation center, as long as those costs are directly tied to carrying out the funded project.
What are examples of eligible operational expenses?
Eligible operational costs can include equipment purchases, office supplies, and certain administrative costs (including salaries), as long as they are directly tied to the funded project.
Can RISE funds be used for staff salaries?
Yes. Certain administrative costs, including salaries, are allowable when they are directly connected to carrying out the funded project.
Is there a cap on administrative costs?
Yes. Administrative costs are capped at no more than 10 percent of the total grant amount over the life of the project.
Does RISE support program design and delivery (not just facilities)?
Yes. The grant can support the design and delivery of programs carried out at, or in direct partnership with, job accelerators, which is a key emphasis of the program.
Are travel costs allowed under RISE?
Yes. Reasonable and customary travel expenses are allowed when they are directly related to the job accelerator work and meet federal cost principles, including the travel rules under 2 CFR 200.474.
Are utilities and operating expenses eligible?
Yes. Utilities and other operating expenses for the innovation center and job accelerator programs are included as eligible costs.
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes a wide range of organizations, including county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.
Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?
No. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) are listed as eligible applicants.
Are small businesses eligible to apply?
Yes. Small businesses are included in the eligible applicant categories.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible applicants, and small businesses are also eligible.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included as eligible applicants.
Are educational institutions eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.
Are local governments eligible?
Yes. County governments, city or township governments, and special district governments are eligible.
What geographic areas does RISE focus on?
RISE is designed to support rural areas, with an emphasis on distressed rural and energy communities.
What kinds of local strengths does RISE expect applicants to build on?
The program describes local assets such as workforce strengths, industry clusters, natural resources, research capacity, and existing employers as examples of strengths that can anchor a regional innovation and jobs strategy.
What outcomes does RISE expect projects to deliver?
RISE emphasizes measurable economic outcomes, including job creation, business formation, and stronger regional economic performance, with an overall focus on better-paying (high-wage) employment and new companies.
What does a strong RISE proposal typically include?
Successful proposals typically align: (1) facilities (like an innovation center), (2) operational capacity (staff and core functions), and (3) accelerator-linked programming into one integrated strategy that benefits a rural area, leverages local strengths, and is structured to deliver measurable economic outcomes.
What public purpose areas does RISE connect to?
The program is categorized across many public purpose areas, including agriculture, business and commerce, community development, education, employment and job training, energy, environment, health, natural resources, transportation, and science and technology/R&D, among others.
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