Rbdg rural business coop native american enterprise grant

Nebraska Indian Community College received a $1.0 million Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services (CFDA 10.351), awarded on August 22, 2025, with a completion date of August 22, 2027. The award supports the college's delivery of business development services and technical assistance to small and emerging private business enterprises in rural Nebraska communities. As an intermediary grantee, NICC will provide services such as feasibility studies, business counseling, market research, workforce development training, and related technical assistance to qualifying business operations that employ 50 or fewer new employees and demonstrate less than $1.0 million in projected gross revenue.

The grant aligns with the RBDG program's objectives to promote sustainable economic development in rural communities while prioritizing projects located in areas with large low-income populations, high unemployment rates, and strong job creation or preservation potential. NICC's role as a tribally controlled Land Grant College positions it to deliver culturally responsive business development support that addresses the unique economic development needs of Native American entrepreneurs and tribal communities throughout Nebraska.