Affordable Rural Cooperative (ARC) Energy Program
Open. Closes November 20, 2026, 29 days from October 22, 2026, as posted on Grants.gov. Posted by Rural Utilities Service, opportunity number RUS-ARC-2026.
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Notice facts
| Agency | Rural Utilities Service |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | RUS-ARC-2026 |
| Assistance listing | 10.758 |
| Funding instrument | Other |
| Category | Energy |
| Posted | October 19, 2026 |
| Closes | November 20, 2026 From the notice: Letters of Interest must be submitted beginning at 11:59 a.m. ET on October 19, 2026, until 11:59 a.m. ET on November 20, 2026. |
| Award range | $100,000 to $20,000,000 |
| Expected number of awards | 30 |
| Total program funding | $175,000,000 |
| Cost sharing or matching | Required, per the notice |
| Applicant types listed | Others (see the notice's eligibility text) |
| Additional eligibility information | From the notice: (1) Operating Electric cooperatives described in section 501(c)(12) or 1381(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 who are currently or have been in the past a RUS electric loan borrower pursuant to the RE Act;(2) Electric cooperatives serving predominantly Rural Areas; or(3) Wholly or jointly owned subsidiaries of such electric cooperatives listed in (1) and (2).For the purposes of this program, the term “predominantly rural” as used in (2) in this paragraph shall mean a… |
| Where to apply | Check the notice for where and how to submit. |
As posted on Grants.gov, checked October 21, 2026. CedarGrant lists what the notice states; it does not judge whether an organization is eligible. The official notice and its modifications control.
Summary from the notice
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is soliciting Letters of Interest (LOI) for applications under the Affordable Rural Cooperative (ARC) Program. In addition, the Agency is announcing the eligibility requirements, application process and deadlines, and the criteria that will be used by RUS to assess ARC Applications. The ARC Program is making approximately $175 million in appropriated budget authority for the cost of loan and grant funds available under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of…
Official notice and documents
- ARC NOFO.pdf (Full Announcement)
- ARC Form SF 424 Questions.pdf (Other Supporting Documents)
- ARC Program Guide LOI Stage.pdf (Other Supporting Documents)
- New Clean Power Tool 1.2.xlsx (Other Supporting Documents)
- Sample Letter of Interest ARC.pdf (Other Supporting Documents)
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