The Center For Rural Development, Inc.

The Center For Rural Development, Inc. is a tax-exempt, non-profit community development corporation headquartered in Somerset, Kentucky, with a registration in SAM.gov dating to January 5, 2005. The organization specializes in developing and delivering training programs and technical assistance focused on emergency management, homeland security, hazardous materials response, pipeline safety, and community infrastructure development. Through its federal awards, The Center For Rural Development has established itself as a significant provider of specialized training and capacity-building services to state, local, tribal, and territorial entities, with a particular emphasis on enhancing preparedness and response capabilities in rural communities across the United States.

The Center For Rural Development has received two federal prime contract awards, both from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The first contract, a $14,000 purchase order awarded by FEMA Region 10 on May 10, 2021, was for the delivery of an MGT-403 training course with an ultimate completion date of September 30, 2021. Subsequently, FEMA awarded a $10,000 purchase order on September 1, 2023, for an MGT403 training course to be performed in Bothell, Washington, with completion scheduled for September 30, 2023. Both contracts utilized the purchase order contract type with no set-aside designations or identified subcontractors. These contract awards demonstrate The Center's capability to deliver management-focused training programs in support of FEMA's emergency management objectives.

The Center For Rural Development has established a robust portfolio of federal prime grant awards totaling approximately $16.5 million across multiple funding agencies and grant programs. The organization has received significant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Homeland Security National Training Program (CFDA 97.005), including multiple Continuing Training Grants awards: a $3 million award on September 1, 2021 (with sub-awardees including North Carolina Central University, University of Tennessee, University of Findlay, University of California Davis, and Northwest Arkansas Community College); a $6 million award on September 29, 2022; a $3 million award on September 22, 2023; and a $4 million award on September 20, 2025. The Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has been a major funding source, awarding the organization multiple grants under the Interagency Hazardous Materials Public Sector Training and Planning Grants program (CFDA 20.703), Technical Assistance Grants program (CFDA 20.710), and the Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) program, with award amounts ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 for training deliveries related to rail car incident response, pipeline security, and hazardous materials transportation safety. The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded an $8 million Project Grant on December 12, 2025 under the Community Facilities Loans and Grants program (CFDA 10.766) to support infrastructure development in rural Kentucky, with notable sub-awardee partnerships including the University of Findlay, Northwest Arkansas Community College, and North Carolina Central University. The Appalachian Regional Commission has also provided funding through multiple Project Grants addressing organizational capacity, workforce training, and community infrastructure from 2022 through 2025. Overall, The Center For Rural Development's grant portfolio demonstrates its expertise in designing and delivering emergency responder training, developing organizational capacity, improving community preparedness, and supporting rural infrastructure development, with consistent partnerships with academic institutions to expand the reach and impact of federally-funded initiatives.