Rural Communities Opportunity Grant

The Rural Communities Opportunity Grant (RCOG) is administered by the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) under the authority of Utah Code Section 63N-4-802. The grant is part of the larger Rural Opportunity Program, overseen by the Rural Opportunity Advisory Committee. The RCOG provides funding to eligible rural communities and Associations of Governments (AOGs) within Utah to support and enhance local economic development efforts. The primary objective of the RCOG is to empower rural areas to take ownership of their economic planning and development. Funding supports initiatives including business recruitment, expansion, and development; workforce training and development; and infrastructure or capital improvements that contribute to business growth. AOGs may also apply, provided they secure letters of agreement from each county in their jurisdiction and demonstrate that their proposed projects target rural areas within those counties. Applicants must be a rural county of the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth class (as defined by Utah law), a municipality with a population of 10,000 or fewer in a second-class county, or one of Utah’s seven AOGs. Third-class counties are only eligible if they do not include a municipality with a population exceeding 100,000. Cities within Washington County other than St. George remain eligible. Municipalities must maintain a functioning planning and zoning commission or an economic development board, and counties must have a functioning County Economic Opportunity Advisory Board (CEO Board). The application process consists of two phases: a pre-application or "Intent to Apply," and the main application. Submission of the pre-application is encouraged but not mandatory and opens July 1, 2025, closing August 29, 2025. Applicants submitting a pre-application can receive one-on-one consultation services including project compatibility reviews, scope-of-work guidance, budget advising, and compliance instruction. The formal application window opens September 15, 2025, and closes October 31, 2025. Applications must include a project scope, detailed budget, timeline, deliverables, and measurable outcomes. The maximum award per applicant is $600,000, with total award limits per county not exceeding $800,000 when combined with other state rural funding sources. RCOG is a competitive grant, and applications are evaluated based on project quality, budget detail, community impact, and alignment with local development priorities. A matching requirement is in place, with the percentage required dependent on the applicant’s classification. For example, a third-class county or municipality must provide a 40% match, while a sixth-class county or a town only needs a 10% match. AOGs are required to provide a 40% match. Matching funds may come from public, private, nonprofit, or federal sources. Once approved, projects must be completed within 24 months. Ninety percent of awarded funds are disbursed upon contract finalization, with the remaining 10% held until satisfactory completion of the project and submission of all required reports. Annual reporting to the Rural Opportunity Advisory Committee is mandatory and must document use of funds, match contributions, and measurable impacts such as job creation or infrastructure improvements. All applicants must verify compliance with previous RCOG or RCG grants to remain eligible for new funding. For more information or assistance, applicants can contact the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity at business@utah.gov or by phone at (801) 538-8680. The office is located at 60 East South Temple, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-1041.