Rural Business Development Grant
USDA Rural Development program offers technical assistance and training to assist small rural businesses
The Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues. Programmatic activities are separated into enterprise or opportunity type grant activities.
Eligible Applicants: Towns, Communities, State agencies, Authorities, Nonprofit Corporations, Institutions of Higher Education, Federally recognized Tribes, Rural Cooperatives
Funding Availability: There is no maximum grant amount for enterprise or opportunity type grants; however, smaller requests are given higher priority. Generally, grants range from $10,000 up to $500,000. There is no cost sharing requirement. Total opportunity type grant funding is limited statutorily to up to 10% of the total RBDG annual funding.
How may funds be used?
Enterprise Grants: These funds must be used on projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas as specified in the grant application. Uses may include:
- Training and technical assistance, such as project planning, business counseling/training, market research, feasibility studies, professional/technical reports, or product/service improvements
- Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation, of buildings, plants, machinery, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, utilities
- Pollution control and abatement
- Capitalization of revolving loan funds including funds that will make loans for start-ups and working capital
- Distance adult learning for job training and advancement
- Rural transportation improvement
- Community economic development
- Technology-based economic development
- Feasibility studies and business plans
- Leadership and entrepreneur training
- Rural business incubators
- Long-term business strategic planning
Opportunity Grants: This type of grant funding must be used for projects in rural areas and they can be used for:
- Community economic development
- Technology-based economic development
- Feasibility studies and business plans
- Leadership and entrepreneur training
- Rural business incubators
- Long-term business strategic planning
Contact:
Jeffrey Clark, Commercial Specialist
Phone: 517-324-5223
RBS Main-line: 517-324-5157
Email: Jeffrey.Clark.1@USDA.gov
Application Deadline: February 28th, 2022
To determine location eligibility, please check: https://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/
Program governed by: 7 CFR Part 4280 Subpart E - Code of Federal Regulations
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/mi.
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