Strategic Economic and Community Development Program

Gregory Batson
573.239.2945
Gregory.Batson@usda.gov

State USDA Rural Development office contacts

Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) is a program that allows USDA to give priority for projects that support the implementation of regional economic development plans through several USDA Rural Development funding programs:

• Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program
• Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program
• Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program
• Water and Waste Disposal Loan Guarantees
• Rural Business Development Grants

Consideration for regional development priority will be based on how well the project supports a multi-jurisdictional plan (called the Strategic Community Investment Plan) and how well the plan addresses collaboration and investments from other federal and philanthropic agencies.

To be eligible for SECD, a project must:

1. Be eligible for the underlying USDA funding program
2. Be carried out solely in a rural area
3. Support a multi-jurisdictional strategic economic community development plan

This is not a funding program. It is an application process to request priority points for specific USDA funding programs.

The most recent application guidelines are available in the Federal Register.

Submit the SECD application form to the appropriate state USDA Rural Development office by the deadline for the covered program opportunity.

Applicants who are applying through a loan guarantee program may submit forms under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative application guidelines.