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Max Funding

Varies

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Due Date

Jun 15, 2026

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Application Type

Full Application

FUNDER DETAILS

FUNDER TYPE

Public

FUNDING FREQUENCY

Annual Grant

FUNDING DURATION

One-Year Grant

USE OF FUNDS

Programs/Projects, Capital Funding, Capacity Building

RESTRICTIONS

Restricted

ELIGIBILITY

✅ 501(c)(3) Organizations, ✅ Government Entities, ✅ Native American Tribes/Nations

PROGRAM AREAS

Economic Development, Technology, Community Outreach, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Job Training, Community Development

LOCATIONS

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Washington DC

USDA

Rural Business Development Grants

The purpose of the program is to promote economic development and job creation projects through the awarding of grant funds to eligible entities. Applications will compete in two separate categories, business opportunity grants and business enterprise grants, for use in funding various business and community projects that serve rural areas.



How may Enterprise type funds be used?


  • Training and technical assistance, such as project planning, business counseling and training, market research, feasibility studies, professional or/technical reports, or producer service improvements.


  • Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation of buildings; plants, machinery, equipment, access for streets and roads; parking areas and utilities.


  • Pollution control and abatement.


  • The capitalization of revolving loan funds, including funds that will make loans for start-ups and working capital.


  • Rural distance learning for job training and advancement for adult students.


  • 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.


How may Opportunity type funds be used?


  • Community economic development.

  • Technology-based economic development.

  • Feasibility studies and business plans.

  • Leadership and entrepreneur training.

  • Rural business incubators.

  • Long-term business strategic planning.


How are applications evaluated?

All applications are evaluated based on:


  • Evidence showing job creation at local businesses.

  • Percent of non-federal funding committed to the project.

  • Economic need in the area to be served.

  • Consistency with local economic development priorities.

  • Experience of the grantee with similar efforts.

About The Grant

Requirements

  • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education. 


  • Rural public entities including, but not limited to: Towns, Communities, State agencies, Authorities, Nonprofit corporations, Institutions of higher education, Federally-recognized tribes, Rural cooperative (if organized as a private nonprofit corporation).This program is only open to a Public Body/Government Entity, Federally Recognized Indian Tribe or a Nonprofit entity serving rural areas. 


  • Rural Business Development Grant money must be used for projects that benefit rural areas or towns outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more.

Grantor Information

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