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

The Industrial Commons received a $100,050 Rural Business Development Grant (CFDA 10.351) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services, awarded on September 23, 2025, with a completion date of September 23, 2027. This Project Grant supports the organization's disaster recovery and rural economic development initiatives in North Carolina. As an intermediary nonprofit organization, The Industrial Commons utilizes these funds to provide comprehensive technical assistance, business counseling, feasibility studies, and support services to small and emerging private businesses in rural communities affected by disasters, helping such enterprises create or retain jobs while maintaining operations with fewer than 50 new employees and less than $1 million in projected gross revenue.

The grant aligns with the Rural Business Development Grant program's core objectives to promote sustainable economic development in rural communities through intermediary organizations. The Industrial Commons' established track record in the region—including prior RBDG awards totaling over $263,000 for business development services—positions it to effectively deploy these disaster-focused funds toward strengthening rural economies and supporting enterprise development in underserved Appalachian communities.