Apply for IFB’s Rural Development Grant Program
Background: After a successful pilot in 2023, Illinois Farm Bureau’s Rural Development Grant Program is back for another round, this time with $100,000 in total awards available. Applications can be submitted from Oct. 1 through Dec. 18.
The challenge: Rural areas across the state face roadblocks around economic development and improving quality of life, and challenges like funding shortages, a lack of volunteers and complex grant applications can stand in the way of communities making meaningful progress.
The opportunity: Grants are available to county Farm Bureaus and their local partners, like units of local government, non-profits and small businesses.
The grants can be used for a project that benefits the community, such as improving infrastructure and broadband, increasing healthcare access, attracting businesses and other initiatives. Up to 20% of the funding will go toward projects related to emergency services.
IFB in action: This program previously distributed $30,000 across 10 projects involving 10 different county Farm Bureaus and multiple other organizations and businesses. It aligns strongly with our policy on rural development, responds to one of IFB’s local government priorities and ultimately helps CFBs grow their relationships and presence in their communities.
More information: