Grant writers and technical assistance providers can help with submitting your online application from your own account or they can submit your application from their account. However, the contact information that is provided in the application must be your contact information rather than the grant writer’s. We will use this information to correspond with you about the grant and the project if you are awarded funds.
Only the primary applicant business or organization is required to submit a business plan or equivalent document with the application. However, we have provided space where you may upload additional business plans or equivalent documents if you feel it would help your application to include documents for partner organizations. Be sure to redact confidential information and trade secrets included in business plans or equivalent documents, whether they are from the primary applicant or partners.
Only the primary applicant business or organization is required to submit a business plan or equivalent document with the application. However, we have provided space where you may upload additional business plans or equivalent documents if you feel it would help your application to include documents for partner organizations. Be sure to redact confidential information and trade secrets included in business plans or equivalent documents, whether they are from the primary applicant or partners.
No, design and construction documents such as architectural blueprints or plat drawings are not required as part of your application. However, including design and construction documents can help demonstrate that your proposal and budget are well researched and reasonable. These documents can be attached in the Construction Budget Justification section of your application.
No, design and construction documents such as architectural blueprints or plat drawings are not required as part of your application. However, including design and construction documents can help demonstrate that your proposal and budget are well researched and reasonable. These documents can be attached in the Construction Budget Justification section of your application.
In the RFSI Program Scope and Requirements (below), USDA states: “Critical resources and infrastructure can be facilities, land, structure, use of city street/parks, shared-used kitchen, and/or other resources that are essential for the proposed project activities.” You can think of critical resources and infrastructure as prerequisites to your project that must be in place before you would be able to complete your project. Not all applications will require Evidence of Critical Infrastructure and Resources Letter(s).
In the RFSI Program Scope and Requirements (below), USDA states: “Critical resources and infrastructure can be facilities, land, structure, use of city street/parks, shared-used kitchen, and/or other resources that are essential for the proposed project activities.” You can think of critical resources and infrastructure as prerequisites to your project that must be in place before you would be able to complete your project. Not all applications will require Evidence of Critical Infrastructure and Resources Letter(s).
We expect that grant contract agreements will begin sometime in late summer or fall 2024. The project timeline and acquisition dates you provide in your grant application should be your best estimate for your project. We recommend beginning your project timeline no earlier than August 2024, with the understanding that your timeline may need to be pushed back if the USDA review process or the environmental review process cause grant awards to be delayed.
We expect that grant contract agreements will begin sometime in late summer or fall 2024. The project timeline and acquisition dates you provide in your grant application should be your best estimate for your project. We recommend beginning your project timeline no earlier than August 2024, with the understanding that your timeline may need to be pushed back if the USDA review process or the environmental review process cause grant awards to be delayed.
You can request reimbursement after you have paid for expenses that are part of your grant budget. Typically, requests are made quarterly, but exceptions to this schedule can be made if needed. More information can be found in this MDA Reimbursement Guide, but note there may be additional or different requirements because RFSI grants are federal funds.