Grants & Loans

Help finding, applying for and administering state and federal funding for local governments.

Overview

Funding your project from application to closeout

Grant and loan programs can make an essential project affordable, but each one has its own eligibility rules, deadlines and paperwork. Ranson has certified personnel with more than 30 years of experience helping communities apply for and administer Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awards.

We also work with other federal and state programs, including USDA Rural Development, state revolving fund (SRF) loans and state transportation funding, and we can help you combine grants, loans and local financing into one plan.

  • Certified CDBG administration personnel
  • Applications, administration and closeout
  • Coordination with bonds or temporary notes when local financing is needed

At a glance

ProgramsCDBG, USDA Rural Development, state revolving fund loans, state transportation programs
Who we serveCities, counties and rural water districts
ContactCrystal Hinnen or Rose Mary Saunders

What we do

How we help

We help you find the programs that fit your project and handle the paperwork that comes with them.

Small Cities CDBG

Community improvement, water and sewer, community facilities and housing rehabilitation grants through your state’s CDBG program, plus urgent-need and other award categories where offered.

USDA Water & Environmental Programs

Loans, grants and loan guarantees for drinking water, sewer, solid waste and storm drainage in rural areas and towns of 10,000 or less.

USDA Community Facilities

Funding to build or improve essential community facilities, such as clinics, town halls, fire stations and libraries, in rural areas.

Drinking Water SRF Loans

State revolving fund (SRF) loans at below-market interest rates for public water supply infrastructure, available to cities and rural water districts.

Clean Water SRF Loans

State revolving fund loans at below-market interest rates for public wastewater infrastructure.

Economic development & more

CDBG economic development funds, trail and recreation grants and other programs that fit your community’s goals.

Our process

Step by step

A clear sequence, with your staff and governing body informed at every stage.

01

Identify

We discuss your project and identify the programs it may qualify for, with their deadlines and match requirements.

02

Prepare

We gather the income, cost and project information each program requires and assemble a complete application.

03

Apply

We submit the application, answer agency questions and keep your governing body informed.

04

Administer

If the project is funded, we help manage the award requirements, from procurement and labor standards to draw requests and reports.

05

Close out

We complete the final reports and closeout documents so your file is in order.

FAQ

Common questions

What does a project need to qualify for CDBG?

Under federal rules, a CDBG project must meet at least one national objective: benefit low- and moderate-income people, remove or prevent slum or blight, or meet an urgent need created by a disaster when local funds are not available. Each state sets its own categories, limits and scoring.

USDA’s Water and Environmental Programs serve rural areas and cities and towns of 10,000 people or less. Public bodies, nonprofits and recognized tribes may qualify.

Each state operates two revolving loan funds, usually through its environmental or health agency: one for drinking water and one for wastewater. They lend to local governments at below-market interest rates for eligible infrastructure.

Often, yes. Many projects pair a grant with an SRF or USDA loan, or with local bonds or temporary notes. We help you see how the pieces fit and what each requires.

No. Program maximums, scoring and deadlines change, so we confirm current guidelines with the agency before each application.

Talk to us about your project

Contact Crystal Hinnen or Rose Mary Saunders, call (316) 264-3400 or email info@ransonfinancial.com.