Rural Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Grants

The Rural Capacity Building program enhances the capacity and ability of rural housing development organizations, Community Development Corporations (CDCs), Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), local governments, and Indian tribes (el

The Rural Capacity Building program enhances the capacity and ability of rural housing development organizations, Community Development Corporations (CDCs), Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), local governments, and Indian tribes (eligible beneficiaries) to carry out affordable housing and community development activities in rural areas for the benefit of low-income families and persons. The Rural Capacity Building program achieves this by funding National Organizations with expertise in rural housing and rural community development who work directly to build the capacity of eligible beneficiaries.

Only National Organizations that are 501(c)(3) nonprofits, other than institutions of higher education, can apply for RCB funding. For the purpose of the RCB program, a National Organization must be a single organization that has experience conducting RCB eligible activities with RCB eligible beneficiaries within the last ten years in at least seven Federal HUD regions. Having relevant experience working in one state in a HUD region is sufficient for counting that region towards the seven-region minimum. Federal regions are described on HUD's website at: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/localoffices/regions .

RCB program Eligible Beneficiaries are limited to a local organization serving rural areas that are one of the following types of organizations: - Rural housing development organization, - Community Development Corporation (CDC), - Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), - Local government, and/or - Indian tribe. RCB program Eligible Beneficiaries must serve rural areas. Eligible Beneficiaries in the RCB program are not Eligible Applicants for the RCB program. By definition, RCB Eligible Beneficiaries are not eligible to apply to this RCB NOFO; National Organizations are the only organizations that can be deemed to be Eligible Applicants by successfully meeting the requirements of a National Organization established in Section I.A.4 and Section III.C of this FY 2018 RCB NOFO. Only Eligible Applicants can apply to HUD directly for RCB program funds through this NOFO. Successfully funded RCB program National Organizations are required to work with Eligible Beneficiaries with their RCB program grant award.

Funds may be used to provide the following services: 1. Training, education, support, and advice to enhance the technical and administrative capabilities to serve rural areas of rural housing development organizations, CDCs, CHDOs, local governments, and Indian tribes, including building their capacity to participate in consolidated planning, as well as in fair housing planning and Continuum of Care homeless assistance efforts that help ensure community-wide participation in assessing area needs; consulting broadly within the community; cooperatively planning for the use of available resources in a comprehensive and holistic manner; and assisting in evaluating performance under these community efforts and in linking plans with neighboring communities to foster regional planning; 2. Loans, pass-through grants or other financial assistance to rural housing organizations, CDCs, CHDOs, local governments, and Indian tribes serving rural areas to carry out community development and affordable housing activities that benefit low-income or low- and moderate-income families and persons by building the capacity of those eligible beneficiaries to in rural areas. 3. Such other activities as may be determined by the grantees in consultation with the Secretary or his or her designee. Currently only RCB related Administration activities are eligible under this category.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of some ineligible activities and costs, and it does not represent ALL of the ineligible activities or ineligible costs possible in the RCB program. • Construction, acquisition, leasing, development, or housing rehabilitation costs are not eligible activities with RCB funds. RCB funds may be used to build the capacity of eligible beneficiaries to be able to engage in construction, rehabilitation, or development Page 23 of 64 work, but the funds cannot be used to directly fund those activities. All activities are categorically excluded from environmental review under NEPA. • Food and meals. Food is considered an entertainment cost (2 CFR 200.438) and is an ineligible expense. • Fundraising with RCB funds is prohibited, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.442. • Issue advocacy or political engagement with RCB funds is prohibited in accordance with 2 CFR 200.450.

The performance period for the Rural Capacity Building grant is four years (48 months). Funds must be expended within four years (48 months) of the grant start date.

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Applications are reviewed according to the Threshold Requirements to determine applicant eligibility as a National Organization and Rating Factor requirements set forth in the RCB Program NOFO. Applicants are assessed for the organization's capacity, understanding of the capacity building needs of eligible beneficiaries, the soundness of their approach in their proposed RCB program, their commitment to leveraging other funding, and their performance evaluation plans and past performance on previous RCB grant awards.

Based upon the requirements published in the Program Section of the RCB NOFO, respondents are notified of acceptance or rejection. Upon selection, the applicant and HUD shall negotiate and execute a grant agreement.

Grantees can request extensions to complete work on an existing Action Plan activity for a period not to exceed one year after the original grant expiration date. When submitting a no-cost extension request, grantees must submit a written request, on the grantee's letter head, signed by the authorized official. Additional documentation and/or explanation may be required. HUD shall review amendment requests and make the determination of approval or denial of the requests. Extensions of the grant agreement termination date will only be considered on a case-bycase basis and must be submitted no less than thirty (30) days prior to the grant agreement expiration date. In addition, all CB funds must be committed to Action Plan activities before a grant extension can be considered, and grant extensions cannot be requested to fund new activities during the extension. CB grantees may not implement the requested amendment activities during the time of the amendment review and prior to receiving written approval from HUD. If the grant extension request is approved, grantees are required to update any affected Action Plan activities through the amendment process prior to the original expiration date of the CB grant. During the period of the grant extension, the grantee may not change the scope or scale of Action Plan activities but may make reasonable budget adjustments through the Action Plan activity amendment process.