Rbdg rural business coop rural enterprise grant

The Rural Business Cooperative Services (RBCS), under the Department of Agriculture, awarded Carolina Welding Training Institute Inc. a Rural Business Development Grant (CFDA 10.351) in the amount of $114,896 on September 29, 2025. This Project Grant, with a completion date of September 29, 2027, supports the Institute's efforts to provide technical assistance and capital resources to small and emerging private businesses in rural South Carolina. The program aims to promote sustainable economic development and job creation in rural communities by funding intermediary organizations that serve as conduits for business support rather than providing grants directly to businesses.

Under this award, Carolina Welding Training Institute Inc. will deliver services targeting small business enterprises with 50 or fewer projected new employees and less than $1 million in projected gross revenue. The grant aligns with RBCS program priorities, which include assisting communities with low-income populations, preserving existing employment, creating new jobs, and serving areas with elevated unemployment rates. The Institute's activities will be conducted in South Carolina and must maintain compliance with federal recordkeeping requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.334 and applicable regulations under 7 CFR 4284, Subpart B.