Rbdg rural business coop rural enterprise grant

JIM Wells County received a $500,000 Rural Business Development Grant (CFDA 10.351) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services, awarded on September 29, 2025, with a completion date of September 29, 2027. This Project Grant supports sustainable economic development and job creation initiatives in rural Texas communities by providing technical assistance and capital support to small and emerging private businesses that employ 50 or fewer new employees and project less than $1 million in gross revenue. As the primary grantee, JIM Wells County will serve as an intermediary to deliver these services to eligible rural businesses within its jurisdiction, with funding prioritizing communities with low-income populations, job creation and retention, and areas experiencing high unemployment.

The grant aligns with the Rural Business Development Grant Program's mission to strengthen rural economies through business enterprise development. JIM Wells County's established federal grant management capacity, as evidenced by its diverse portfolio of infrastructure, public safety, and community resilience projects, positions the county to effectively administer this funding to support economic opportunities for small business owners and rural entrepreneurs in South Texas through the two-year project period.