Affordable Rural Cooperative (ARC) Energy Program
Key details
- Offered by
- Rural Utilities Service
- Type
- Funding opportunity
- Funding type
- Grant
- Amount
- $20,000,000
- Posted
- September 14, 2026
- Closes
- See the official page
- Last verified
- September 22, 2026
About this opportunity
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is soliciting Letters of Interest (LOI) for applications under the Affordable Rural Cooperative (ARC) Program. In addition, the Agency is announcing the eligibility requirements, application process and deadlines, and the criteria that will be used by RUS to assess ARC Applications. The ARC Program is making approximately $175 million in appropriated budget authority for the cost of loan and grant funds available under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. In keeping with the statutory authority for the program, RUS will utilize the ARC funds to assist Eligible Entities to achieve future net reductions consistent with Section 22004 of the IRA through the deployment of advanced, efficient transmission infrastructure and nuclear power supply. Available funds will be allocated for each purpose while advancing the long-term resiliency, reliability, and affordability of rural electric systems. All Eligible Entities are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their LOIs and ARC Applications. This funding notice advances the statutory purpose of achieving the greatest reductions as provided in Section 22004 of the IRA associated with rural electric systems by increasing the amount of emission-free nuclear power and increasing the efficiency of the transmission grid within such systems. These new sources of cooperative power supply and enhanced transmission efficiency will result in reduced future demand for other sources of power. Cost Sharing or Matching: For Project and System loans, RUS will finance up to 75 percent of the total capitalized cost of the Project in the loan component of a Project and/or System Award. The Awardee will be required to initially provide and maintain for the term of the Project and/or System Award at least 25 percent of the Project’s total capitalized cost in the form of cash or an equity investment. As noted in Section 2.0 of the NOFO, the Agency may where Financially Feasible allow an Awardee to utilize the grant component of the Award and/or any applicable tax credit that it expects to receive (including credit amounts expected to be received through Elective Pay elections under section 6417 of the Internal Revenue Code) toward the 25 percent equity requirement for a Project Award. Such financial equity may not come from the proceeds of any loan from any creditor, including insiders of the Awardee.
Who can apply
(1) Operating Electric cooperatives described in section 501(c)(12) or 1381(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 who are currently or have been in the past a RUS electric loan borrower pursuant to the RE Act;(2) Electric cooperatives serving predominantly Rural Areas; or(3) Wholly or jointly owned subsidiaries of such electric cooperatives listed in (1) and (2).For the purposes of this program, the term “predominantly rural” as used in (2) in this paragraph shall mean a service territory that must include at least 50 percent Rural Areas
Apply on the official page
You apply directly with the organization offering this. They make the final eligibility and award decision.
Get help with your application
Create a free account to save this, track deadlines, and build your application with our writing tools.
Related groups
Other open opportunities like this
- Funding opportunityGrant
BJA FY 2026 Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
Bureau of Justice Assistance
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY2026 Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). This opportunity seeks to enhance the capacity of regulatory and law enforcement agencies and public health officials to collect and analyze controlled substance prescription data and other scheduled chemical products through a centralized database administered by an authorized agency. PDMPs help state and local governments to detect and prevent the diversion and abuse of pharmaceutically controlled substances such as opioids and other prescription drugs. The primary function of a PDMP is to facilitate the collection, analysis, and reporting of information on the prescribing, dispensing, and use of prescription drugs with a state, commonwealth, district, or territory. The goal of the Harold Rogers PDMP is to strengthen states’ and territories’ ability to maintain and enhance their existing PDMPs by accommodating local decision-making based on state laws and preferences and replicating promising practices. As part of supporting the enhancement of PDMPs, the Harold Rogers PDMP supports the integration of PDMP data with health information exchanges, electronic health records, or pharmacy dispensing systems, including engaging with tribal entities and rural areas where integration rates may be lower. This program helps to break the cycle of drug addiction and violence by reducing the demand, use, and the illegal trafficking of controlled substances.
- Amount:
- $0 to $2,000,000
- Closes:
- Sep 23, 2026
- Funding opportunityGrant
FY27 Brownfields Job Training (JT) Grants
Environmental Protection Agency
This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities to deliver Brownfields Job Training programs that recruit, train, and place local, unemployed, and underemployed residents with the skills needed to secure full-time employment in the environmental field. Brownfields Job Training Grants fund training programs that strengthen local workforces by preparing program graduates for environmental jobs that support cleanup and revitalization efforts in their own communities. Training may include a range of brownfield-related environmental skills such as the assessment and cleanup of solid and hazardous waste; chemical risk management; stormwater management relating to site cleanup; planning and site preparation for low-impact development activities; site preparation for green infrastructure installation; and vulnerability assessment and contamination mitigation planning. Please carefully review Section 4.E. of these guidelines, Section IV of EPA NOFO Clauses, and the Frequently Asked Questions, which can be found at https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/frequently-asked-questions-about-brownfields-job-training-jt-grants. A checklist of required application forms and documents is in Section 4.A. For the purposes of these guidelines, the term “grant” refers to the cooperative agreement that EPA will award to a successful applicant. In this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), “Project” refers to the applicant’s proposed Brownfields Job Training effort to be funded under this competition. Unless otherwise noted, “training program” is used synonymously with “project.”
- Amount:
- $300,000
- Closes:
- Sep 23, 2026
- Funding opportunityGrant
Modern Equipment for Shared-use Biomedical Research Facilities: Advancing Research-Related Operations (S15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
National Institutes of Health
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites eligible academic or research institutions to apply for funding support to purchase latest scientific equipment that will enhance and modernize research-supporting operations of existing shared biomedical research facilities. Targeted are laboratory research core facilities, animal research facilities, and other similar shared-use research spaces. The goal of this NOFO is to strengthen research-auxiliary activities of biomedical research facilities and to enhance the efficiency of their operations. The NOFO does not support the purchase of scientific research instruments or their components, nor components of building-level infrastructure equipment that indirectly support research activities.
- Amount:
- $350,000
- Closes:
- Sep 25, 2026
- Funding opportunityGrant
FY26 Bureau of Land Management Invasive and Noxious Plant Management - Bureau wide
Bureau of Land Management
BLM Invasive and Noxious Plant Management Programs work to prevent, detect, inventory, control, and monitor weed populations on public lands.Invasive species cost the public millions of dollars in control and management each year and many invasive plants and noxious weeds are highly competitive and have the ability to permanently degrade our public lands.Noxious weeds and invasive species expansion are recognized as the single greatest threat to our native plant communities and the values they provide us.These native plant communities are essential for supporting wildlife habitat, watershed function, recreation opportunities, rural economies and working landscapes.Invasive plants and noxious weeds affect plant and animal communities on farms and ranches, and in parks, waters, forests, natural areas, and backyards in negative ways.Human activity such as trade, travel, and tourism have all increased substantially, escalating the speed and volume of species movement to unprecedented levels.Increased site vulnerability from wildfires that are more frequent and other disturbances is an ongoing challenge to maintaining the integrity of our native plant communities.Noxious weeds are particularly aggressive plants legally designated by states as being injurious to public health, the environment or the economy.Invasive species and noxious weeds adversely affect overall recreational opportunities on public land i.e., hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, watershed health and ecosystem function, which result in economic losses in rural and urban communities.Invasive species and noxious weeds affect adjacent private lands, both rural and urban, causing widespread economic losses to the agricultural industry as well as to other resources.Advance early detection rapid response.Enhance emergency stabilization and burned area rehabilitation. Advance education, awareness, and citizen science relative to invasive species. Conduct invasive species treatments to protect resource values on public lands.Support classical biological control agent development.
- Amount:
- $20,000 to $400,000
- Closes:
- Sep 25, 2026
- Funding opportunityGrant
Utilizing Equipment to Study Environmental Extrinsic Factors and Enhance Rigor and Reproducibility of Animal Research (R24, Clinical Trials Not-Allowed)
National Institutes of Health
The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) invites grant applications from core facilities, resource centers, animal vivaria, or individual investigators of other shared resources to systematically study the roles of critical environmental extrinsic factors in biological, behavioral, and treatment studies using animal model species, with the objective of enhancing the rigor and reproducibility of animal research. The research area must be broadly applicable to the scientific interests of two or more NIH Institutes or Centers (ICs) and must evaluate the biological processes that impact multiple organ systems in order to align with the ORIPs NIH-wide mission and programs. The program supports the acquisition or update of modern equipment for measuring, monitoring, recording, and reporting environmental, biological or biobehavioral variables. The equipment requested must be capable of recording and reporting multiple parameters simultaneously.
- Closes:
- Sep 25, 2026
- Funding opportunityGrant
FY26 Bureau of Land Management Plant Conservation and Restoration Management - Bureau wide
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management"s Plant Conservation and Restoration Program (PCRP) is a national leader in building the native seed supply chain essential for restoring resilient public lands and supporting multiple use and sustained yield. PCRP advances Department of the Interior mission to protect and manage America's natural resources. The native seed PCRP adds to the commercial market enables rapid recovery following wildfire, hurricanes, and other natural disasters; can be used by proponents to help satisfy revegetation requirements for energy and infrastructure projects; and helps farmers and creates jobs by expanding market access for small producers.A core mission of PCRP is to grow the national native seed supply chain through partnerships with eligible state, tribal, academic, and non-governmental organizations. Reliable native seed supplies are critical to improving rangeland health, restoring wildlife habitat and migration corridors, reclaiming mined and timber-harvested lands, and reducing invasive species. Expanding this pipeline lowers seed costs, reduces producer risk, creates American jobs, and ensures long-term project success with durable vegetative establishment.In 2026, PCRP is strategically focused on:Local seed collections to diversify species in the marketplace while creating employment opportunities.Support for farmers and nonprofits entering the native seed market to strengthen rural economies and shared stewardship.Nursery production of species unsuitable for direct seeding to support healthy rangelands, forests and watersheds, big game and healthy wildlife habitat,Applied science and innovation to reduce costs, lower risk, and improve restoration outcomes.Manage native plant communities and special status plants to maintain multiple use and sustained yieldPCRP seeks partnerships to:Collaborate with state agriculture departments, NRCS, and others to expand farmer access to the seed market.Work with wildlife agencies and others to implement post-fire recovery, restore migration corridors, and protect priority species.Develop technology and infrastructure for seed collection, cleaning, banking, and production of hard-to-grow species.Advance applied science to sustain special status plant species and prevent regulatory impacts on energy development.Support technology development, technology transfer and education so native seed is used more effectively. Integrate native seed use across BLM programs including Wildlife, Oil & Gas, Minerals, Fuels, Range, and Renewable Energy.Through this NOFO, PCRP invites partners to join in strengthening America"s native seed supply chain—ensuring healthier public lands, stronger rural economies, and cost effective lasting ecological resilience.
- Amount:
- $10,000 to $500,000
- Closes:
- Sep 28, 2026