✉ 100% async — no calls, no meetings

Federal Grants
for Small Towns

I write USDA Community Facilities & Rural Development applications — for towns under 20,000, and the engineering firms that serve them. Flat fee, everything by email.

Check Your Eligibility — Free Get in Touch
For towns & cities
A complete application, written for you
Under 20,000 population. Flat fee, $250 to start, everything by email. Check eligibility →
For engineering & A/E firms
White-label funding application writing
You design the project; I write the USDA funding package behind your brand. See how it works →
804
Minnesota cities researched
in my live database
14,600+
U.S. towns under 5,000 residents
(Census 2024)
$2K
One flat fee —
never a percentage of your grant
Process

How It Works

✉ No calls required — everything by email

A complete draft 2–3 weeks after you return the questionnaire — the full timeline depends on your program's document checklist, and you get a dated plan up front.

1

Free Eligibility Check

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

2

You Fill the Questionnaire

A short online form about your project. I pull the Census data myself — minimal work on your end.

3

I Write, You Review

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

Who You're Working With

About

Valerii Cheipesh, founder of GrantWrite

Hi, I'm Val — I write USDA grant applications for towns too small to keep a grant office of their own.

Across rural America, thousands of small communities leave federal money on the table for one simple reason: there's no one on staff to write the application. The big consulting firms rarely bother with towns under 20,000. I started GrantWrite to close that gap — careful, documented work at a price a town of 1,500 can actually approve.

I'm a one-person, remote operation, and that's deliberate. It's why my fee is one flat $2,000 instead of a big-firm retainer — and why I work entirely by email: every step stays in writing, documented for your council to review. You always know exactly who is doing the work and what it costs.

  • You review every word — the city always submits the final application itself.
  • One flat fee, agreed up front. Never a percentage of your grant.
  • You start with just $250 — most of the fee is due only after the finished application is delivered.
  • Not sure I'm for real? Call your state USDA office and ask about the program — I'll point you to the right desk.
  • See exactly what you'd get before you decide: read a complete sample application →
  • Work with an engineering or architecture firm? I also write funding applications behind your brand →

Valerii Cheipesh · Founder, GrantWrite

Grant Programs

What I Cover

Starting with the most reliable federal programs for small communities.

★ Priority

USDA Community Facilities

  • Grant covers 15–75% of project cost, set by population and income
  • Remainder financed by a CF direct loan at a fixed rate
  • Rolling deadline — apply any time
  • Reviewed and scored by your state USDA office
  • Communities under 20,000 pop.
  • Fire stations, clinics, town halls
Tier 1

FEMA AFG — Fire Departments

  • $50K–$500K per award
  • Application window announced in each year's NOFO
  • $291M awarded in FY2024
  • Equipment, vehicles, training
  • Clear published scoring rubric
Tier 1

State CDBG Small Cities

  • $50K–$750K per award
  • State-administered HUD funds
  • Spring deadlines (varies by state)
  • Infrastructure, public facilities
  • Strong in MN, IA, WI, ND
Tier 1

AARP Community Challenge

  • Flagship grants up to $15K; demonstration grants up to $25K
  • Foundation funded — private money, lighter paperwork
  • 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
$250 to start — the balance only when your finished application is in hand
  • 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 Me Today

Or read a complete sample application first →

Grant award decisions are made by funding agencies, not by me. I 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. I 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? +
Two reasons. First, the cost of preparing an application generally isn't an allowable charge against the grant itself, so it can't simply be paid out of the proceeds. Second, contingency arrangements — paying only if you win — are considered improper in the grant-writing profession and can put an award at risk. A flat consulting fee, agreed up front, is the clean and standard way to handle it, and it's easy to document in your budget records.
Could a mistake in the application put our city at risk? +
An honest mistake just makes an application less competitive — at worst, it isn't funded. There is no penalty for honest errors. Penalties only apply to knowingly false statements: deliberately submitting false information to obtain federal funds. That is exactly why I build every application from official sources — Census data and your own records — and why you review every fact and submit it yourself. Accurate, verifiable, and in your hands.
We have never applied for a federal grant. Is that a problem? +
Not at all — that is exactly who I serve. Most small towns have never had a dedicated grant writer on staff. I guide you through every step: eligibility check, questionnaire, narrative draft, budget, and final review. Your city manager or mayor signs and submits — I prepare everything else.
How long does the whole process take? +
I deliver a complete draft in 2–3 weeks after you return my questionnaire. Total time to submission depends on your program's document checklist — you get a dated plan up front. After submission, USDA review takes additional months; I'll map the full timeline for your program before we start.
What information do we need to provide? +
Very little. I pull the Census data (population, income) myself. 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 — I can advise on that too.
Are you affiliated with USDA or any government agency? +
No. I'm an independent grant writing service. Not affiliated with USDA, FEMA, or any government agency. I prepare your application — your city submits it directly to the program office.
Free Tool

Grant Eligibility Checker

Four questions and your email — get an assessment right away.

Does your community qualify for USDA Community Facilities?

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

The middle household income in your city — not the average. Find it at census.gov

Get Started

Ready to Apply?

No calls. No meetings. Email me and I'll take it from there.

✉ grants@smalltowngrants.com
  • 1 Email me your city name, state, and project idea
  • 2 I confirm eligibility and send a flat fee quote
  • 3 You sign a simple agreement and pay just $250 to start
  • 4 I deliver a complete draft in 2–3 weeks