Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
The Rural Business Development Grant program provides funding 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 new employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues. Programmatic activities are separated into enterprise or opportunity type grant activities.
10.351
Discretionary
Initial
The application deadline is posted on the program’s website.
Total Amount: $37,000,000
Amount Available Towards Broadband (if specified):
No
A RBDG grant can be used with other funding opportunities, but it can be difficult to match up the timing of the loan and a grant. However, one factor considered when evaluating applications is the percent of non-federal funding committed to the project.
Not Applicable
RBDG funds must be used for projects that benefit rural towns or areas outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more. Small businesses, to be eligible for the program, must have fewer than 50 workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue.
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Information on monitoring and servicing can be found at 2 CFR chapter IV.
Not Applicable
Varies by state. See agency website
March 2023