✉ 100% async — no calls, no meetings

Federal Grants
for Small Towns

We write USDA Community Facilities grant applications for communities under 20,000. Flat fee. Everything by email.

Check Your Eligibility — Free Get in Touch
60–80%
USDA CF approval rate
through state offices
19,000+
Small towns eligible
with no grant staff
$2–3K
Flat fee vs. $12,000+
from large firms
Process

How It Works

✉ No calls required — everything by email

From first contact to submitted application in 4–6 weeks.

1

Free Eligibility Check

Fill out the form below or email us. We review your community and project, and respond within one business day.

2

You Fill the Questionnaire

A short online form about your project. We pull Census data ourselves — minimal work on your end.

3

We Write, You Review

Complete narrative draft in 2–3 weeks. One round of revisions by email. You verify facts and submit to USDA.

Grant Programs

What We Cover

Starting with the most reliable federal programs for small communities.

★ Priority

USDA Community Facilities

  • $50K–$500K per award
  • Rolling deadline — apply any time
  • 60–80% approval via state offices
  • Communities under 20,000 pop.
  • Fire stations, clinics, town halls
Tier 1

FEMA AFG — Fire Departments

  • $50K–$500K per award
  • Annual window: Jan–Feb
  • $291M awarded in FY2024
  • Equipment, vehicles, training
  • Clear published scoring rubric
Tier 1

State CDBG Small Cities

  • $50K–$750K per award
  • State-level — no federal risk
  • Spring deadlines (varies by state)
  • Infrastructure, public facilities
  • Strong in MN, IA, WI, ND
Tier 1

AARP Community Challenge

  • Up to $150K per award
  • Foundation funded, no federal risk
  • Shorter application format
  • Walkability, parks, public spaces
  • Spring deadline annually
Pricing

Simple, Flat Pricing

No percentage of the grant. No contingency fees. Just fair, transparent pricing.

Per Application
$2,000–3,000
50% at signing · 50% at submission
  • Full narrative draft — all required sections
  • Budget development support
  • Census and eligibility data research
  • One round of revisions included
  • Final review before city submits
  • USDA state office coordination support
Get Started — Email Us Today

Grant award decisions are made by funding agencies, not by us. We write the strongest possible application — outcomes depend on program competition and community eligibility.

FAQ

Common Questions

What city managers ask before signing.

Do you guarantee we will receive the grant? +
No — and any service that promises guaranteed grant money is lying to you. Grant decisions are made by USDA or FEMA based on your community eligibility and competition. We maximize your chances by writing the strongest possible application. Think of it like hiring a lawyer to write a contract: you pay for the work, not the court decision.
Why can't we pay after we receive the grant? +
Federal regulations (2 CFR 200.459) explicitly prohibit paying for grant writing on a contingency basis — meaning you cannot legally pay us from grant proceeds. If you did, the agency could demand the money back and your city could face penalties. Our flat fee is a standard consulting expense, easy to document in your budget records.
We have never applied for a federal grant. Is that a problem? +
Not at all — that is exactly who we serve. Most small towns under 10,000 have no grant staff. We guide you through every step: eligibility check, questionnaire, narrative draft, budget, and final review. Your city manager or mayor signs and submits — we prepare everything else.
How long does the whole process take? +
We deliver a complete draft in 2–3 weeks after you return our questionnaire. Total time from first email to submission is typically 4–6 weeks. After submission, USDA Community Facilities decisions usually come within 3–6 months.
What information do we need to provide? +
Very little. We pull Census data (population, income) ourselves. You fill out a short questionnaire: what you want to build, estimated cost, why it is needed, and who will use it. The hardest part is usually getting a cost estimate from a contractor — we can advise on that too.
Are you affiliated with USDA or any government agency? +
No. We are an independent grant writing service. Not affiliated with USDA, FEMA, or any government agency. We prepare your application — your city submits it directly to the program office.
Free Tool

Grant Eligibility Checker

Answer 5 questions — get an instant assessment.

Does your community qualify for USDA Community Facilities?

No calls needed. Fill out the form and get your eligibility assessment right away.

Average annual family income in your city — find it at census.gov

Get Started

Ready to Apply?

No calls. No meetings. Email us and we will take it from there.

✉ grants@smalltowngrants.com
  • 1 Email us your city name, state, and project idea
  • 2 We confirm eligibility and send a flat fee quote
  • 3 You sign a simple agreement and pay 50% to start
  • 4 We deliver a complete draft in 2–3 weeks