SEC. 6022 rmap-rural micro develop organizations grants (disc)

Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation received a $280,491 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services under the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (CFDA 10.870) on September 24, 2025, with a completion date of September 24, 2027. This award supports Kentucky Highlands' work as a Microenterprise Development Organization (MDO) serving rural areas in Kentucky. The funding enables the organization to provide microloans up to $50,000 to rural microentrepreneurs for startup and growing microenterprises, capitalizing the organization's microloan revolving fund and supporting direct lending activities for underserved entrepreneurs in economically distressed rural communities.

In addition to microloan capital, the award supports technical assistance services tailored to microloan borrowers, including business training, operational support, business planning, market development assistance, and management guidance. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Kentucky Highlands—operating through its subsidiary Kentucky Highlands Community Development Corporation—leverages this federal funding to strengthen economic development and microenterprise support in Southeastern Kentucky, with particular focus on women, minority, and low-income rural entrepreneurs who lack sufficient access to capital and business training resources.