Rbdg rural business coop rural enterprise grant

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Office of Research received a $213,000 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. Under this Project Grant, the university is expected to provide technical assistance and support services to promote sustainable economic development and job creation in rural Louisiana communities. The program typically funds intermediary organizations that provide capital and business development resources to small and emerging private businesses employing 50 or fewer new employees with less than $1 million in projected gross revenue.

As a research institution with extensive experience administering federal programs and providing technical assistance across multiple disciplines, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is well-positioned to deliver rural business development support services within the scope of this grant. The award aligns with the university's broader portfolio of federal engagements in economic development initiatives and reflects its capacity as a prime grant awardee for rural business and workforce development programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.