April 2016 ~ Rural Development

Saturday, 23 April 2016

Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants

What does this program do?

This program helps eligible communities prepare for, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water for households and businesses.

Who may apply?

Most State and local governmental entities
Nonprofit organizations

Federally recognized Tribes i

What kind of event can qualify as an emergency?

Drought or flood
Earthquake
Tornado or hurricane
Disease outbreak
Chemical spill, leak or seepage
Other disasters

NOTE: A federal disaster declaration is not required

What is an eligible Area?

Areas that may be served include:

Rural areas and towns with 10,000 or fewer people--checkeligible addresses
Tribal Lands in rural areas i
Colonias i

The area to be served must also have a median household income less-than the state's median household income for non-metropolitan areas--contact your local RD office for details.

How may the funds be used?

Water transmission line grants up to $150,000 are for construction of waterline extensions, repairs to breaks or leaks in existing water distribution lines, and related maintenance necessary to replenish water supply
Water Source grants up to $500,000 are for construction of a new water source, intake and/or treatment facility

Are matching funds required?

Partnerships with other federal, state, local, private and non-profit entities are encouraged

How do we get started?

Applications for this program are accepted through your local RD office year round
Program Resources are available online (forms, guidance, certifications etc.)

Who can answer questions?

Contact your local RD office
Participating non-profit associations also offer assistance and training

What regulations govern this program?

Code of Federal Regulation, 7 CFR 1778
This program is authorized by Section 306A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT)

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

This program helps prevent damage or restore access to clean, reliable drinking water for households and businesses in eligible rural areas and towns following natural disasters. Good practices can save tax dollars, improve the natural environment and may be necessary for manufacturers and other types of businesses to locate or expand operations.

NOTE: Program details may change over time. Before you begin an application, please confirm you have the most current information by contacting your local representative or consult the Program Instructions listed in the section above titled "What Governs this Program?"

Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Loan Guarantees

Announcement: The Rural Utilities Service is pleased to announce that we have expanded our online mapping tool to now accept existing service area maps funded by our Telecom Infrastructure and Broadband Loan Programs. We sent out a letter (PDF) on April 20, 2016, informing all of our existing borrowers who are eligible to participate in this new effort. You may access our Broadband Mapping Tool in order to complete this task.

To apply for Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Loan Guarantees funding, visit RD Apply, our newly developed, online application system. Additional information to assist applicants with their online applications can be found under the Forms & Resources tab.

Farm Bill Broadband Loans & Loan Guarantees

Announcement : The Rural Utilities Service is pleased to announce that we have expanded our online mapping tool to now accept existing service area maps funded by our Telecom Infrastructure and Broadband Loan Programs. We sent out a letter (PDF) on April 20, 2016, informing all of our existing borrowers who are eligible to participate in this new effort. You may access our Broadband Mapping Tool in order to complete this task.

Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants

Program Status : FY2016 Application window closed
Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) [PDF]

The USDA Telecommunications Program hosted webinars focused on the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program FY 2016.Recorded presentation slides on the DLT program webinar are available under Forms and Resources Tab.

What does this program do?
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program helps rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. For example, this program can

Community Connect Grants

Program Status: OPEN
Application Deadline: Paper: June 17, 2016 | Electronic: June 17, 2016

Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) (PDF)

What does this program do?
This program helps fund broadband deployment into rural communities where it is not yet economically viable for private sector providers to deliver service. For more information on other programs administered by RUS Telecommunications please visit :http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/telecom-programs

State Bulk Fuel Revolving Loan Fund

What does this program do?
This program helps State governments establish and support revolving loan funds to provide a more cost-effective means of purchasing fuel for remote communities that are not served by surface transportation (highways, transit systems, railways, and waterways) year round.

Who may apply?

State governments

What is an eligible area?

The law requires the consideration of several factors to determine whether an area qualifies as rural for the purposes of this program
Call (202) 720-9545 to determine whether your proposed service area qualifies as rural for the purposes of this program

Electric Infrastructure Loan & Loan Guarantee Program

What does this program do?

The electric program makes insured loans and loan guarantees to nonprofit and cooperative associations, public bodies, and other utilities. Insured loans primarily finance the construction of electric distribution facilities in rural areas. The guaranteed loan program has been expanded and is now available to finance generation, transmission, and distribution facilities. The loans and loan guarantees finance the construction of electric distribution, transmission, and generation facilities, including system improvements and replacement required to furnish and improve electric service in rural areas, as well as demand side management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-

Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants

Program Status: Open

What does this program do?
Also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, this provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.

Who may apply for this program?
To qualify, you must:

Be the homeowner and occupy the house
Be unable to obtain affordable credit elsewhere
Have a family income below 50 percent of the area median income 
For grants, be age 62 or older and not be able to repay a repair loan

Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program

Program Status: Open

What does this program do?
This program assists approved lenders in providing low- and moderate-income households the opportunity to own adequate, modest, decent, safe and sanitary dwellings as their primary residence in eligible rural areas. Eligible applicants may build, rehabilitate, improve or relocate a dwelling in an eligible rural area. The program provides a 90% loan note guarantee to approved lenders in order to reduce the risk of extending 100% loans to eligible rural homebuyers.

Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans

Program Status: Open

What does this program do?
Also known as the Section 502 Direct Loan Program, this program assists low- and very-low-income applicants obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing in eligible rural areas by providing payment assistance to increase an applicant’s repayment ability. Payment assistance is a type of subsidy that reduces the mortgage payment for a short time. The amount of assistance is determined by the adjusted family income.

Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants

What does this program do?
Provides grants to qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction projects. Grant recipients supervise groups of very-low- and low-income individuals and families as they construct their own homes in rural areas. The group members provide most of the construction labor on each other’s homes, with technical assistance from the organization overseeing the project.

Who may apply for this program?
Eligible applicants include:

Government non-profit organizations
Federally-recognized Tribes
Private non-profit organizations

Multi-Family Housing Rental Assistance

What does this program do?
This program provides payments to owners of USDA-financed Rural Rental Housing or Farm Labor Housing projects on behalf of low-income tenants unable to pay their full rent.

Who may apply for this program?

Project owners as part of their Rural Rental Housing or Farm Labor Housing new construction financing applications
Projects must be established on a nonprofit or limited profit basis

Multi-Family Housing Loan Guarantees

Program Status: OPEN
Application Deadline: 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, December 31, 2017
Notice of Funding Availability (pdf) | Posted: March 14, 2016

What does this program do?
The program works with qualified private-sector lenders to provide financing to qualified borrowers to increase the supply of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families in eligible rural areas and towns.

Who may apply for this program?
Private lenders may apply for a loan guarantee on loans made to an eligible borrower who is unable to obtain commercial credit on reasonable terms without the guarantee.

Multi-Family Housing Direct Loans

What does this program do?
This program provides competitive financing for affordable multi-family rental housing for low-income, elderly, or disabled individuals and families in eligible rural areas.

Who may apply for this program?
This program assists qualified applicants that cannot obtain commercial credit on terms that will allow them to charge rents that are affordable to low-income tenants. Qualified applicants include:

Individuals, trusts, associations, partnerships, limited partnerships, nonprofit organizations, for-profit corporations and consumer cooperatives.
Most state and local governmental entities.
Federally-recognized Tribes

Housing Preservation Grants

Program Status: CLOSED
Application Deadline: March 15, 2016
Notice of Solicitation of Application (pdf)

FY 2016 HPG NOSA Deadline Extension: March 15, 2016

What does this program do?
It provides grants to sponsoring organizations for the repair or rehabilitation of housing occupied by low and very low income (1)people.

Who may apply for this program?

Most State and local governmental entities
Nonprofit organizations
Federally Recognized Tribes 
Individual homeowners are not eligible

Housing Preservation & Revitalization Demonstration Loans & Grants

Program Status: Closed
Application Deadline: Closed: December 31, 2015.
Notice of Solicitation of Applications | (MPR NOSA) | Closed: December 31, 2015

MPR NOSA Corrections: Closed: December 31, 2015

MPR NOSA Responses

What does this program do?
It restructures loans for existing Rural Rental Housing and Off-Farm Labor Housing projects to help improve and preserve the availability of safe affordable rental housing for low income residents.

Farm Labor Housing Direct Loans & Grants

Program Status: CLOSED
Application Deadline: April 12, 2016
Notice of Solicitation of Application (pdf)

What does this program do?
It provides affordable financing to develop housing for year-round and migrant or seasonal domestic farm laborers. (1)

Tribal College Initiative Grants

What does this program do?
This program provides funding to 1994 Land Grant Institutions (Tribal Colleges) to make capital improvements to their educational facilities and to purchase equipment.

Who may apply for this program?
Tribal Colleges as listed in Section 7402 of the Agricultural Act of 2014.

How may funds be used?
Funds can be used by Tribal Colleges for infrastructure improvements, to purchase equipment and to develop essential community facilities.

Eligible community facilities projects include:

Rural Community Development Initiative Grants

Application Deadline: 4:00 pm Local Time - August 13, 2015
Notice of Solicitation of Application (pdf) | Posted: May 15, 2015

What does this program do?
This program provides funding to help non-profit housing and community development organizations support housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas.

Annoucement of recent RCDI Grant Awards and the list of recipients.

Economic Impact Initiative Grants

What does this program do?
This program provides funding to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural communities with extreme unemployment and severe economic depression.

An essential community facility is one that provides an essential service to the local community, is needed for the orderly development of the community, serves a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.

Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program

Program Status: Open

What does this program do?
This program provides loan guarantees to eligible private lenders to help build essential community facilities in rural areas.
An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.

Who may apply for this program?
Private lenders may apply for a loan guarantee on loans made to an eligible borrower that is unable to obtain the needed commercial credit on reasonable terms without the guarantee. 
Eligible borrowers:

Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program

Program Status: Open

What does this program do?
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.

Who may apply for this program?
Eligible borrowers include:

Public bodies
Community-based non-profit corporations
Federally-recognized Tribes

Strategic Economic and Community Development

Application Deadline: June 30, 2016
Federal Register Notice: (.pdf)

Section 6025 of the 2014 Farm Bill enables the Secretary of Agriculture to provide priority to projects that support strategic economic and community development plans. The result of that is a provision called Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD).

Purpose

To advance projects which support long-term community and economic growth strategies that reflect both multi-jurisdictional stakeholder collaboration and capitalize upon the unique strengths of the rural area. Through this provision, USDA Rural Development is empowered to work further with rural communities to align resources with long-range and multi-jurisdictional challenges and needs by leveraging federal, state, local, or private funding.

Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Loans & Grants

What does this program do?
Provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase or install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements.

Who may apply?

Agricultural producers with at least 50% of gross income coming from agricultural operations, and
Small businesses in eligible rural areas.

NOTE: Agricultural producers and small businesses must have no outstanding delinquent federal taxes, debt, judgment or debarment.

Rural Energy for America Program Energy Audit & Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants

What does this program do?

Grantees assist rural small businesses and agricultural producers by conducting and promoting energy audits, and providing renewable energy development assistance (REDA).

Who may apply for this program?

State and local governments;
Federally-recognized Tribes;
A land-grant college or university, or other Institutions of Higher Education;
Rural electric cooperatives;
Public power entities;
An Instrumentality of a state, tribal, or local government;
A Resource Conservation & Development Council (as defined in16 USC §3451).

Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program

What does this program do?

This program assists in the development, construction, and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies for the development of Advanced Biofuels, Renewable Chemicals, and Biobased Product Manufacturing by providing loan guarantees for up to $250 million.

Who may apply for this program?

Lenders with legal authority, sufficient experience and expertise, and can demonstrate they meet the FDIC definition of “Well Capitalized” at the time of application and issuance of Loan Note Guarantee, including:

Repowering Assistance Program

What does this program do?
Provides funding for up to 50% of the total eligible project costs for biorefineries to install renewable biomass systems for heating and power at their facilities; or, to produce new energy from renewable biomass

Who may apply?
Biorefineries in existence on or before June 18, 2008, proposing to use only renewable biomass for replacement fuel, with no outstanding delinquent federal taxes, debt, judgment or debarment (renewable biomass is further defined in 7 CFR, Part 4288.2)

Advanced Biofuel Payment Program

What does this program do?
Support and ensure an expanding production of advanced biofuels by paying advanced biofuel producers for finished advanced biofuel products

Who may apply?
Any entity that produces and sells advanced biofuel is eligible to apply. Eligible advanced biofuels:

Meet the definition of an advanced biofuel in 7 CFR Part4288.102;
Are a liquid, gas, or solid;
Must be a final product;
Are produced in the United States; and
Are ones where the buyers and sellers act independently and have no relationship to each other.

Delta Health Care Services Grant

What does this program do?

The primary objective of the DHCS program is to provide financial assistance to address the continued unmet health needs in the Delta Region through cooperation among health care professionals, institutions of higher education, research institutions, and other entities in the Delta Region. Grants are awarded through a national competition. Each fiscal year, applications are requested through a Notice published in the Federal Register and through an announcement posted on Grants.gov.

Value Added Producer Grants

What does this program do?

The VAPG program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of bio-based, value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the goals of this program. You may receive priority if you are a beginning farmer or rancher, a socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher, a small or medium-sized farm or ranch structured as a family farm, a farmer or rancher cooperative, or are proposing a mid-tier value chain. Grants are awarded through a national competition. Each fiscal year, applications are requested through a notice published in the Federal Register and through an announcement posted onGrants.gov.

Program Funding: $44 million
Maximum Grant Amount: $75,000 for planning grants; $250,000 for working capital grants
Matching Funds Requirements: 50% of total project costs

Who may apply for this program?

Independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer- or rancher-cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures are eligible to apply for this program.

How may funds be used?

Grant and matching funds can be used for planning activities or for working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product. Examples of planning activities include conducting feasibility studies and developing business plans for processing and marketing the proposed value-added product. Examples of working capital expenses include:

Processing costs
Marketing and advertising expenses
Some inventory and salary expenses

How do I get started?

Before you apply:

Request a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number if your organization doesn’t already have one. It should not take more than a few business days to get your number. However, you should plan on requesting it at least a month before the application deadline because you’ll need that number for the next pre-application step (see below).
Register your organization with the System for Award Management (SAM) if you aren’t already registered. The registration is free, but you need to complete several steps. It’s a good idea to start the registration process at least a month before any application deadline. Before you start the registration process, we suggest reading through the HELP materials available on the SAM website. Then, you’ll need to create an account. After you create your account by setting up a user ID and password, you can register your organization. Remember, you’ll need your DUNS number to complete your registration. Also, make a note of your CAGE code and expiration date because you’ll need those for your application.

Additional requirements:

You need to read the Federal Register notice for the details on what is needed for an application. Make sure you start putting together the required information at least a month before the application deadline because you may need to provide letters of commitment or support from other organizations, a work plan and budget, and other information that will take you some time to look up or write. You may also need to fill out required forms. You can get copies of those forms from your nearest Rural Development Office. Below are links to optional forms that may assist you in developing your application.

Who can answer questions?

If you have questions, you can contact your nearest Rural Development Office.

Will I Need to Send Any Reports if I Receive a Grant?

If you receive a grant, you will need to send regular financial and performance reports. Your grant agreement will tell you how often you need to send the reports, what forms you need to use, and what information you need to put in the reports.

Where can I get more information?

In addition to many Federal regulations, the VAPG program has a regulation that is just for this program. It contains details about the program’s purpose, what you can and can’t do with grant money, application requirements, and information about how applications will be selected for funding. Remember that you need to read the Federal Register notice to get all the details about how to apply, but theprogram regulation also has useful information that you will need before applying for a grant.

Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant

What does this program do?

The primary objective of the SDGG program is to provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups through cooperatives and Cooperative Development Centers. Each fiscal year, applications are requested through a Notice published in the Federal Register and an announcement posted on Grants.gov.

Program Funding: $3 million

Maximum Grant Amount: $175,000

Matching Funds Requirement: None

Who may apply for this program?

Cooperatives and Cooperative Development Centers are eligible to apply for this program.

How may funds be used?
Grant funds must be used to provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups in rural areas. Examples of technical assistance are:

Feasibility studies
Business plans
Strategic planning
Leadership training

Note that the cooperative or Center can be located in any area, but the groups assisted must be located in an eligible rural area.

How do I get started?

Before you apply:

Request a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number if your organization does not already have one. It should not take more than a few business days to get your number. However, you should plan on requesting it at least a month before the application deadline because you’ll need that number for the next pre-application step (see below).
Register your organization with the System for Award Management (SAM) if you are not already registered. The registration is free, but you need to complete several steps. It’s a good idea to start the registration process at least a month before any application deadline. Before you start the registration process, we suggest reading through the HELP materials available on the SAM website. Then, you’ll need to create an account. After you create your account by setting up a user id and password, you can register your organization. Remember, you’ll need your DUNS number to complete your registration. Also, make a note of your CAGE code and expiration date because you’ll need those for your application.

Additional requirements:

You need to read the Federal Register notice for the details on what is needed for an application. Make sure you start putting together the required information at least a month before the application deadline because you may need to provide letters of commitment or support from other organizations, a work plan and budget, and other information that will take you some time to look up or write. You may also need to fill out forms. You can get copies of the forms from yournearest Rural Development Office as well as the SDGG 2015 Application Template and suggested formats for required information.

Who can answer questions?

If you have questions, you can contact your nearest Rural Development Office.

Will I Need to Send Any Reports if I Receive a Grant?

Where Can I Get More Information about the Program?

This program does not have its own regulation, so all of the details about the program are published in a Federal Register notice each year. If the notice has not been published yet for this year, you can contact your nearest Rural Development office to get a copy of last year’s notice to get an idea of how the application process works. However, there may be changes each year to the application process, so make sure you read the most current notice before you apply. You can also view a list of previous recipients.

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program

What does this program do?
Provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to:

Provide microloans for microenterprise startups and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund
Provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs

Who may apply for this program?
The following are eligible to be an MDO:

Nonprofits
Federally-recognized Tribes
Institutions of higher learning

The following are eligible to apply for a loan from the MDO as an ultimate recipient:

Businesses with 10 or fewer full time employees, and located in an eligible area

What is an eligible area?

Rural areas outside a city or town with a population of less than 50,000. Urbanized areas near a city of 50,000+ may not be eligible.
The borrower’s headquarters may be based within a larger city so long as the project service area is located in an eligible rural area
The lender may be located anywhere

Check eligible addresses for Business Programs.

Are there other requirements?
MDOs must demonstrate experience in managing a Revolving Loan Fund.

How much funding is available to MDOs?

Grants are available to provide technical assistance to rural micro-entrepreneurs or microenterprises, up to $205,000 annually. Funding at the requested level is not guaranteed, and at least 15% matching funds are required.
Loans up to $50,000 - $500,000 may be used for establishing a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund managed by the MDO. Total aggregate debt is capped at $2.5 million.

What are the loan terms for the MDOs?

Maximum term is 20 years
2-year payment deferral
Must establish a loan loss reserve fund

What terms are required on loans to ultimate recipients?

Up to $50,000
Fixed interest rate
Limited to 75% of project cost

How may funds be used?

Working capital
Debt refinancing
Purchase equipment, supplies, real estate

How do we get started?
Applications for this program are accepted on an annual basis. A Notice of Solicitation for Applications (NOSA) is posted in the Federal Register. Program Resources are available online (includes forms needed, guidance, certifications, etc.)

Who can answer questions?
Contact your local office

What governs this program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR 4280, subpart D
This program is authorized by Section 379E of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 USC 2008s)

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?
To support the development and ongoing success of rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises.

Rural Business Investment Program

What does this program do?
This program provides a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC) license to newly formed venture capital organizations to help meet the equity capital investment needs in rural communities.

Who may apply for this program?
Eligible applicants for the RBIC license include newly formed:

For-profit entities, or
Subsidiary of an entity

All Applicants:

Must have relevant experience in venture capital or community development financing
Must raise a minimum of $10 million in private equity capital
May be structured as limited partnerships, limited liability companies, or corporations

What is an eligible area?
There are no restrictions on the location of eligible applicants for RBIC licenses. The goal of each RBIC is to help fill the need for business and development capital in rural areas.

How may funds be used?

A minimum of 75% of funds must be made in rural areas with a population of 50,000 or less.
A minimum of 50% of funds must be invested in smaller enterprises 
A maximum of 10% of RBIC investments may be made in urban areas 

How do we get started?
Applications for this program are accepted on an annual basis. A Notice of Solicitations of Applications (NOSA) is posted in the Federal Register.

Who can answer questions?
David Chesnick in our National Program Office can assist with planning, application, and servicing. He can be reached at (202) 690-0433 orDavid.Chesnick@wdc.usda.gov.

What governs this program?

Code of Federal Regulation, 7 CFR Part 4290
This program is authorized by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill)

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?
Access to capital is vital to businesses and often scarce in rural areas.

Rural Business Development Grants

What does this program do?

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.

Who may apply for this program?

Rural public entities including, but not limited to:

Towns
Communities
State agencies
Authorities
Nonprofit Corporations
Institutions of Higher Education
Federally-recognized Tribes
Rural Cooperatives

What is an eligible area?

RBDG funds must be directed for projects benefitting rural areas or towns outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more. Check eligible areas.

How much funding is available?

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. Opportunity type grant funding is limited statutorily to up to 10% of the total RBDG annual funding.

How may funds be used?

Enterprise type grant 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 type 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

How are applications evaluated for competitive funding?

RBDG applications compete at the state office level, which are dependent on appropriations.

All applications are evaluated based on:

Evidence showing job creation to occur with local businesses;
Percent of nonfederal 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; and

Other factors described in the current Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA), if one is published.

How do we get started?

Applications are accepted through USDA Rural Development’slocal or State offices once per year. Applicants are advised to view program information specific to your local or State office to learn about local application timelines, concept paper requirements, etc.
Grant awardees will need to complete required paperwork and comply with the terms and conditions of the award. Contactyour local or State office for details.

Who can answer questions?

Contact your local office.

What governs this program?

Basic Program – 7 CFR Part 4280, Subpart E. This program is authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (ConAct)

What governed the predecessor programs of RBEG and RBOG, as well as all awards given before FY 2015?

RBEG Basic Program - RD Instruction 1942-G
RBOG Basic Program - 7 CFR Part 4284
This program was authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (ConAct)

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

This program provides grants for rural projects that finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses help fund distance learning networks, and help fund employment related adult education programs. To assist with business development, RBDGs may fund a broad array of activities.

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