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Rural Business Development Grant Program is sponsored by USDA Rural Development. The Rural Business Development Grant Program (RBDG) supports targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities that promote the development and expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas.
Funds can be used for business planning, market research, feasibility studies, acquisition or development of land, construction/renovation of buildings, machinery, equipment, and access to utilities. It also supports community economic development, technology-based economic development, leadership and entrepreneur training, and rural business incubators. Priority is given to smaller requests.
While individuals and for-profit businesses are not directly eligible, public bodies, Indian Tribes, and non-profit entities that serve rural areas and aim to benefit small businesses can apply.
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gov Maintenance Calendar Rural Business Development Grant Program Department of Agriculture Rural Business-Cooperative Service Document Type:Grants Notice Funding Opportunity Number:RDBCP-RBDG-2025 Funding Opportunity Title:Rural Business Development Grant Program Opportunity Category:Discretionary Opportunity Category Explanation: Funding Instrument Type:Grant Category of Funding Activity:Business and Commerce Expected Number of Awards:450 Assistance Listings:10.
351 -- Rural Business Development Grant Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:No Last Updated Date:Oct 18, 2024 Original Closing Date for Applications:Feb 28, 2025 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 for the State where the Project will be located.
Late submissions will not be considered. Current Closing Date for Applications:Feb 28, 2025 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 for the State where the Project will be located. Late submissions will not be considered.
Archive Date:Mar 30, 2025 Estimated Total Program Funding: Eligible Applicants:Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Additional Information on Eligibility: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. For profit entities, individuals and individual businesses are not eligible to receive grants under this program.
## Additional Information Agency Name:Rural Business-Cooperative Service Description: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.
Link to Additional Information:Link to Program Web Site Grantor Contact Information:If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: #### Health & Human Services * Frequently Asked Questions ## Your session will expire in 3 minutes. To continue working, click on the "OK" button below. This is being done to protect your privacy.
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Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Eligible applicants include rural public entities, Indian Tribes, and nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher learning primarily serving rural areas. The grants aim to benefit small and emerging private businesses in rural areas with fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross annual revenues. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows $10,000 - $500,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Applications for Rural Business Development Grant Program are due June 30, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
Rural Business Development Grant Program is funded by USDA Rural Development. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
The solicitation lists 3 required documents: SF-424, project proposal, and budget narrative. Check the official notice for formatting and page-limit rules.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
The Homeless Youth Program is a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services that funds services for homeless and at-risk youth across Illinois. Administered through the Office of Community and Positive Youth Development, it supports nonprofit organizations delivering shelter, outreach, and support services to young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Eligible applicants are Illinois-based nonprofits with demonstrated capacity to serve youth. Awards range from $100,000 to $800,000 per year under CSFA number 444-80-0711. This is a FY 2026 funding opportunity with an application deadline of May 21, 2025.
Community Investment Tax Credit Program (CITC) is a grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development that provides state tax credit allocations to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, enabling them to attract private donations from individuals and businesses. Donors contributing $500 or more to approved projects receive tax credits equal to 50% of their contribution. The program has leveraged nearly $27 million in charitable contributions to approximately 700 projects statewide. Eligible project areas include education, housing, job training, arts and culture, economic development, and services for at-risk populations. Projects must be located in or serve residents of Maryland's Priority Funding Areas. The application period is typically held annually.
USDA opened a $27.7M Rural Business Development Grant NOFO on May 18 with two deadlines two weeks apart. The June 15 Strategic Economic and Community Development carve-out and the June 30 main pool fund different applicants under different scoring — and most rural cooperatives apply to the wrong one.
Read articleUSDA's FY2026 Distance Learning and Telemedicine NOFO funds end-point equipment for rural schools, clinics, and libraries — but the 15% non-federal match, the hub-and-end-site project architecture, and the scoring weight on rurality and economic need are what determine winners by the June 30, 2026 deadline.
Read articleUSDA's FY2026 Rural Business Development Grant NOFO funds technical assistance and small-business support in rural communities under 50,000 residents — but the two-deadline structure (June 15 for Strategic Economic and Community Development applications, June 30 for everyone else), the enterprise vs. opportunity split, and the pass-through grantee model are what shape competitive proposals.
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