Rural Business Development Grant Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- RDBCP-RBDG-2026
- Agency
-
Rural Business Cooperative Services
Washington Office, Department of Agriculture
- Applications due
- Award size
- Not on record
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Business and Commerce
- Eligible applicants
-
- City/Township Governments
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Special District Governments
- State Governments
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- County Governments
- Points of contact
-
- Rachel Reister rachel.reister@usda.gov
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Agriculture Rural Business Cooperative Services seeks applicants for the Rural Business Development Grant program by June 30, 2026, to promote economic development and job creation in rural areas through grants to eligible entities that serve as intermediaries to small and emerging businesses.
Eligible applicants are city and township governments, tribal governments (federally recognized), special district governments, state governments, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public higher education institutions, and county governments. Grants are not awarded directly to businesses but to these eligible entities for distribution to qualifying rural businesses employing 50 or fewer new employees with less than $1 million in projected gross revenue.
No cost sharing or matching funds are required, though applicants that leverage additional funds earn priority points. The program offers approximately $27.7 million in FY 2026 funding with no stated minimum or maximum award amount; applications requesting smaller grant amounts receive additional priority. The expected performance period is June 1, 2026 through September 30, 2028, with projects required to be completed within one year of initiation.
Applications compete in two separate categories: business opportunity grants (limited to up to 10 percent of annual funding) and business enterprise grants. Opportunity grants support business analysis, training, leadership development, and technical assistance. Enterprise grants fund infrastructure, equipment, technical assistance, and workforce development for projects benefiting small and emerging businesses.
Selection criteria address fund leveraging, project feasibility, and alignment with Rural Business Cooperative Services priorities: domestic manufacturing and industrial capacity, domestic energy production and security, and new markets for American farmers and rural producers. The program prioritizes projects in communities with large low-income populations, projects that create or preserve jobs, and areas with elevated unemployment. Applications are submitted to the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office by 4:30 p.m. local time; regular applications are due June 30, 2026, and Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) applications by June 15, 2026.
CFDA 10.351 applies.
Synopsis
The purpose of the program is to promote economic development and job creation projects through the awarding of grant funds to eligible entities.
Applications will compete in two separate categories, business opportunity grants and business enterprise grants, for use in funding various
business and community projects that serve rural areas.
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