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

Business and Community Lenders of Texas (BCL of Texas), also known as Cen-Tex Certified Development Corporation, received a $100,000 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 funds the delivery of business development services and technical assistance to support sustainable economic development in rural Texas communities. As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the organization will leverage this funding to provide support to small and emerging private businesses that meet program eligibility criteria—those employing 50 or fewer new employees with less than $1 million in projected gross revenue.

The Rural Business Development Grant program, administered by Rural Business Cooperative Services, supports intermediary organizations rather than funding businesses directly. BCL of Texas will utilize grant funds to promote job creation and economic revitalization in designated rural areas of Texas, with priority consideration given to projects in low-income communities, those preserving existing employment, and regions experiencing high unemployment. This award builds upon the organization's established track record of delivering comprehensive financial services, capital access initiatives, and development activities throughout underserved rural and urban markets across Texas.