Applications Now Being Accepted for Community Investment Training Program

Applications Now Being Accepted for Community Investment Training Program

Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Community Investment Training program, a 16-week opportunity offered through the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's Rural Investment Collaborative. The training program aims to help community leaders across Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia develop investment-ready community and economic projects in their local communities.

Using a training curriculum provided by Invest Appalachia, participants will receive instruction on cultivating effective partnerships within their communities, honing their funding pitches, developing the infrastructure to sustain their projects and more. Participants who complete the training will receive a mini grant funded through the Collaborative's national and regional philanthropic partner organizations to be used to further develop their proposals and to support community activation of their projects.

About the Rural Investment Collaborative

The Rural Investment Collaborative convenes rural leaders and local community champions to participate in shared learning and programming to facilitate improved access to capital, including the group's signature Community Investment Training program. The Collaborative also works with national and regional funding organizations to help increase the availability and access to funding needed to bring these projects to life.

"The Rural Investment Collaborative seeks to support the Community Investment Training participants with the knowledge, skills and guidance they need to develop investable projects and to bring them together with capital providers to support accessibility of resources in rural communities," said Carrie Cook, Richmond Fed vice president of community development and community affairs officer. "We look forward to building upon the success of the first cohort and supporting the community and economic development of these rural areas by providing this training to others throughout our district."

"You're given the tools and the building blocks to come out at the end with something you can really use for the project you're focused on and other projects in your area," said Katie Ryan, director of operations for Clifton Forge School of the Arts and 2024 Community Investment Training program participant.

"The project that I was focused on has already been awarded funding through an opportunity that was brought to our attention through my participation in the training," Ryan said. "That's a tangible result."

Application Process and Requirements

Applications for the 2025 Community Investment Training program are open now through Aug. 8, 2024. Community leaders, individuals working for community development, nonprofit or faith-based organizations, local governments and others with an existing or new community project idea in need of development assistance are encouraged to apply.

All applicants must submit ideas for a local community project in need of funding as part of their application. Visit the Rural Investment Collaborative site to learn more about the program, including eligibility requirements and program readiness recommendations.

The Richmond Fed does not fund or otherwise award grants or participate in the selection of grantees, or selection of communities receiving training or technical assistance.

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