Applications Now Being Accepted for 2026 Community Investment Training Program
Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Community Investment Training program, a 16-week opportunity offered through the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Rural Investment Collaborative. The training program aims to help community leaders across Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia develop investment-ready community and economic projects in their local communities.
Using a curriculum provided by Invest Appalachia, participants receive instruction on cultivating effective partnerships within their communities, honing their funding pitches, developing the infrastructure to sustain their projects and more. Participants who complete the training will receive a mini-grant funded through the Collaborative’s national and regional philanthropic partner organizations to further develop their project proposals.
“The Community Investment Training program has equipped community leaders who have completed the training with the knowledge and guidance to advance their projects and has prepared them to engage with potential project investors,” said Daniel Davis, Richmond Fed group vice president. “Now entering into our third year of the program, we are more eager than ever to help support the economic development of these communities throughout our district by making this training available.”
“The most significant thing I learned from the Community Investment Training was learning how to frame your idea from ideation to creation,” said Ansel Ponder, co-founder of Blue Appalachia Holdings and 2025 Community Investment Training program participant. “Learning how to take it one step at a time, so when you’re ready to pitch, it’s clear and concise and people can understand exactly what your project is about.”
Those selected to participate in the 2026 cohort will be the third class of rural and small-town community leaders to go through the program. To date, 42 participants have successfully completed the Community Investment Training program.
Application Process and Requirements
Applications for the 2026 Community Investment Training program are open now through Aug. 20, 2025. Community leaders, individuals working for community development, nonprofit or faith-based organizations, local governments and others with an existing or new community project idea in need of development assistance are encouraged to apply.
All applicants must submit ideas for a local community project in need of multiple types of investment as part of their application. Visit the Rural Investment Collaborative site to learn more about the program, including eligibility requirements and program readiness recommendations.
About the Rural Investment Collaborative
In support of the Richmond Fed’s mission to strengthen the economy and the communities across our region, the Rural Investment Collaborative works to address a basic problem of supply and demand that is a barrier for many small towns to access funding needed to advance economic and community development efforts. On the demand side, rural regions have fewer people who can develop strong project proposals. On the supply side, some sources of funding are missing or not well coordinated.
The Rural Investment Collaborative convenes leaders in these communities to participate in shared learning and programming that aims to improve access to capital. The Collaborative also works with national and regional funding organizations to help increase the availability of and access to the funds needed to bring these projects to life. By working together to address the supply and demand challenges, we’re helping to create an economically resilient future for these small towns and rural communities.
The Richmond Fed does not fund or otherwise award grants or participate in the selection of grantees, or selection of communities receiving training or technical assistance.
