Rural Business Development Grant Program

The Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service and Rural Business Cooperative Services, provides grant funding to eligible entities such as state/local governments, nonprofits, higher education institutions, and tribal governments. The program aims to promote economic development and job creation in rural areas through two categories of grants - business opportunity grants and business enterprise grants. Applicants must demonstrate the project's economic impact, alignment with strategic plans, and ability to create or save jobs. Key application requirements include SAMS registration, organizational/financial documentation, and details on the scope of work, budget, and performance measures. The evaluation criteria consider factors like population, unemployment, median household income, economic distress, and leveraging of non-federal funds.

Approximately $30 million is anticipated to be available for the program, subject to appropriations. Individual awards typically range from $10,000 to $500,000, with most falling between $50,000 and $200,000. The awards are two-year Project Grants, with completion dates set two years from the award date. Eligible projects must be located in designated rural areas as defined by program regulations.