Rural business development grants - disaster (rbdg e disaster) grants

On September 22, 2025, Rural Business Cooperative Services (RBCS), a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, awarded Washington Parish Government a $500,000 Rural Business Development Grant (CFDA 10.351) designated for disaster recovery purposes. The award supports the parish's efforts to promote sustainable economic development and facilitate the development of small and emerging private businesses in rural Louisiana communities affected by disaster. Washington Parish Government, as the intermediary grantee, will utilize these funds to provide technical assistance and capital support to eligible small businesses employing 50 or fewer new employees with less than $1 million in projected gross revenue. The grant period extends through September 22, 2027.

This disaster-focused Rural Business Development Grant aligns with the federal program's core mission to stimulate job creation and economic recovery in distressed rural communities while supporting small business enterprises. As an established local government entity with a demonstrated track record of successfully managing federal grant awards from multiple agencies, Washington Parish Government is positioned to effectively distribute and monitor these funds to support eligible rural business recovery initiatives within the parish.