Application

You may download an application in either PDF or Word.

During the 2007 Legislative Session, the Legislature passed HB 134 which amended the State Mineral Lease Statute. As a result of this bill, the Rural Development Fund was dissolved, effective March 15, 2007.

Statutory Authority

The Rural Development Fund (RDF) is a program of the State of Utah authorized in Section 9-14-101, et seq. The goal of the RDF is to provide grants to local governmental entities in south-central Utah impacted by the transfer of lands to the control of the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration by the federal government in 1998. The source of the RDF's funding is a portion of mineral lease royalties collected on the exchanged lands.

Board Membership

The RDF is controlled by a five member Board composed of a governor's designee, and a mayor or county commissioner from each of the four participating counties; Kane, Garfield, Piute and Wayne Counties. The Utah State Department of Community and Economic Development provide administrative and operational support. (Board Membership List)

Eligible Applicants

  • Eligible applicants are limited to county and municipal governments or special service districts within Kane, Garfield, Piute and Wayne Counties.
  • Ineligible applicants include Indian Tribes, individuals, corporations, associations, and private nonprofit groups.
  • Eligible applicants cannot apply in behalf of ineligible applicants.


Eligible Projects

  • The RDF considers applications for capital projects (so-called brick & mortar projects).
  • Capital projects include public facilities, services or infrastructure traditionally provided by local governmental entities under Utah statute.
  • Eligibility is limited to projects owned by an eligible applicant.
  • List of Approved Project for FY-06


Funding Guidelines

Applicants are strongly encouraged to leverage RDF with other matching funds.
The RDF will not fund planning or feasibility studies. Design projects, which are directly related to and will result in a capital project, will be funded on a 50/50 cash match basis.
The RDF will not fund general operating budgets of eligible applicants. Additionally, the RDF will not fund operating or maintenance budgets for otherwise eligible projects.
All applicants must demonstrate that the facilities or services provided will be available and open to the general public and that the proposed funding assistance is not merely a device to pass along low interest government financing to the private sector.

For more information, contact Keith Burnett at (801) 538-8725.