I'm Val. I write and assemble USDA Community Facilities and Rural Development funding applications for small communities — and for the engineering firms that serve them.
Most small towns leave federal money unclaimed for one reason: no one on staff has the time to write a 40–50 page application. This page shows exactly how I do that work — so you can judge the quality before we ever talk.
The clearest way to see the work is to read one. This is a full Community Facilities writing sample for a real, grant-eligible Minnesota town — built end to end the way a funded application reads.
Demographics are real public U.S. Census data; the project, dollar amounts and letters are illustrative — shown to demonstrate how a real application reads, not to represent a client.
A CF application is not judged on prose — it is scored against the criteria in 7 CFR Part 3570. Knowing the formula is what separates a fundable application from a hopeful one. The grant percentage a town can receive is set by two numbers: population and median household income (MHI) against the state's non-metro median.
| Community profile | Max grant share |
|---|---|
| Population ≤ 5,000 and MHI ≤ 60% of state non-metro median | up to 75% |
| Population ≤ 12,000 and MHI ≤ 70% | up to 55% |
| Population ≤ 20,000 and MHI ≤ 80% | up to 35% |
On top of the grant share, applications earn priority points for being small, low-income, and for projects that protect public health and safety — fire, ambulance, water, and health facilities score highest. I read every application backward from these points: I confirm a town's tier first, then write each section to claim the points it actually qualifies for. Nothing is left to chance or to flattering language.
I maintain a scored shortlist of eligible communities so a project's tier is established before a single page is written — selecting the right project for the right town is arithmetic, not guesswork.
A CF application is a package of exhibits, not one document. Here is the honest division of labor — what I produce, and what comes from the town's own people.
| Application exhibit | Prepared by |
|---|---|
| Project narrative & statement of need | Me |
| Census demographics & eligibility analysis | Me |
| Budget & funding request | Me, built from your cost estimate |
| Federal forms (SF-424 family) | Me |
| Environmental record (NEPA / RD 1970) | Me — assembled; specialist studies as needed |
| Letters of support | Me — drafted; partners sign |
| Preliminary Architectural Report & cost estimate | Your architect / engineer |
| Audited financials & council resolution | Your city |
| SAM.gov registration & UEI number | Your city — I guide you step by step |
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