Rural Business Development Grant Open for Applications
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service has announced that it is accepting applications for the 2025 Fiscal Year Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program. The RBDG program’s purpose is to promote economic development and job creation projects by awarding grant funding in two separate categories: Business Opportunity Grants and Business Enterprise Grants. USDA expects to make approximately $30 million available overall with applications due February 28, 2025.
What does the program seek to fund?
Business Opportunity Grants must have a reasonable prospect of resulting in the economic development of a rural area. They are made to public bodies, non-profit corporations, and federally recognized Indian Tribes to:
- Analyze rural business opportunities for small and emerging or larger business
- Identify and/or provide training opportunities to rural entrepreneurs
- Conduct leadership development, establish training or technology centers
- Conduct technical assistance or area-wide planning activities
Business Enterprise Grants must have a reasonable prospect that will result in the development or financing of small and emerging businesses. These grants may be used to:
- Acquire or develop land, buildings, plants, and equipment
- Access streets and roads, parking areas, utility extensions, necessary water, and supply and waste disposal facilities
- Provide technical assistance
- Establish revolving loan funds
- Create, expand, or operate rural distance learning programs that provide educational or job training instruction related to potential employment or job advancement to adult students.
Who is eligible to apply?
The applicant must be one of the following: a public body/government entity; an Indian Tribe; or a nonprofit entity. The applicant must have sufficient financial strength and expertise in activities proposed in the application to ensure accomplishment of the described activities and objectives.
What kind of funding is available?
There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority. Over the past 10 years, individual grant awards have averaged approximately $68,000. There is no cost sharing requirement, however additional priority points may be awarded for leveraging matching funds.
What is the project period?
The project must reasonably be expected to be completed within one full year after it has begun. All projects must be completed by September 30, 2027.
When are applications due?
Complete applications may be submitted in paper or electronic format, and must be received by 4:30 p.m. local time on February 28, 2025 in the USDA Rural Development state office where the project is located.
The Notice of Solicitation of Applications can be found here.
For more information on this grant or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.