Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants
Active
- Assistance listing
- 10.854
- Agency
-
Rural Business Cooperative Services
Washington Office, Department of Agriculture
- Grant awards
- 745 $208,657,993 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- (REDLG)
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Treasury accounts
-
- 12-3108-0-1-452
- 12-3105-0-1-452
- 12-4230-0-3-271
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service Washington Office Rural Business Cooperative Services funds rural economic development projects through local utility organizations under Assistance Listing 10.854, with the most recent grant awards disbursed on June 8, 2026.
The program provides zero-interest loans and grants to electric and telephone utilities, which pass funding through to rural businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that create and retain employment in rural areas. Grants establish Revolving Loan Funds from which utilities disburse loans to eligible projects; loans are repaid directly to the utility, which then repays USDA. Maximum grant award is $300,000; maximum loan is $2 million, with a 10-year term at zero percent interest.
Grant awards have remained steady over the past five years, ranging from 24 to 37 awards annually; 2026 has seen 24 awards to date. The program has disbursed 745 total awards since 2002, totaling $208.7 million in federal obligations. All awards are structured as Project Grants. Recent awards cluster in the $100,000 to $300,000 range: electric grants ($191,500 to $300,000), telecom grants ($300,000), Farm Bill electric grants ($83,333 to $300,000), and disaster recovery grants ($100,833 to $300,000).
Applicants must be current or former Rural Development borrowers, nonprofit utilities eligible for Rural Development Electric or Telecommunication Program assistance, or electric and telephone utilities with current RUS loans, Rural Telephone Bank loans, or outstanding guarantees, and must not be delinquent on federal debt or in bankruptcy. Applications may be submitted as often as desired with renewal possible for one year.
The most recent posted opportunity (RD-RBCS-25-REDLG) opened on August 26, 2024, with a due date of June 30, 2025, now closed. Prior opportunities follow an annual cycle posted in late summer with spring due dates.
Objective and description
- Objective
The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Programs provide funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipi
- Description
This program is for projects which promote rural economic development and job creation. Maximum amount of grant is $1.5 million; maximum amount of loan is $2,000,000. Maximum term and interest rates for the Intermediary is 10 years for 0% interest rate.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
To receive funding (which will be forwarded to selected eligible projects), an entity must be: A former Rural Utilities Service borrower who borrowed, repaid or pre-paid an insured, direct or guaranteed loan. Nonprofit utilities that are eligible to receive assistance from the Rural Development Electric or Telecommunication Programs. Current Rural Development Electric or Telecommunication Programs borrowers. Electric and telephone utilities that have current loans with the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), Rural Telephone Bank loans, or guarantees outstanding and are not delinquent on any Federal debt or in bankruptcy proceedings.
- Uses of assistance
This program is for projects which promote rural economic development and job creation.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Please reference the annual NOSA
How to apply
- Application procedure
Submit application as described in 7 CFR 4280.39, no State plan required.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
See 7 CFR 4280.42.
- Award procedure
RBS selects projects to be funded. The funds pass through the RUS utility to rural economic development projects.
- Renewals
Renewal of same application for 1 year. Submit new or revised application as often as desired.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant | Closed | ||
| Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant | Closed | ||
| Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant | Closed |
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 745 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Four County Electric Membership Corporation | $7,140,000 | 3% |
| 2 | Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation | $6,798,863 | 3% |
| 3 | Piedmont Electric Membership Corp | $5,190,000 | 2% |
| 4 | Corn Belt Power Cooperative | $4,500,000 | 2% |
| 5 | Central Iowa Power Cooperative | $3,475,000 | 2% |
| 6 | Pee Dee Electric Membership Corp | $3,339,301 | 2% |
| 7 | North West Rural Electric Cooperative | $3,208,000 | 2% |
| 8 | Heartland Consumers Power District | $2,700,000 | 1% |
| 9 | Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative | $2,669,426 | 1% |
| 10 | Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative | $2,373,292 | 1% |
10 of 272 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $6,252,071 |
| FY2025 | $8,998,597 |
| FY2024 | $8,532,689 |
| FY2023 | $9,353,740 |
| FY2022 | $9,430,000 |
| FY2021 | $6,549,832 |
| FY2020 | $9,845,000 |
| FY2019 | $7,258,334 |
| FY2018 | $8,755,833 |
| FY2017 | $9,042,500 |
| FY2016 | $10,214,000 |
| FY2015 | $9,103,765 |
| FY2014 | $8,980,000 |
| FY2013 | $8,960,763 |
| FY2012 | $8,238,608 |
| FY2011 | $5,357,333 |
| FY2010 | $8,476,570 |
| FY2009 | $9,814,156 |
| FY2008 | $9,700,000 |
| FY2007 | $9,663,333 |
| FY2006 | $10,000,000 |
| FY2005 | $8,120,000 |
| FY2004 | $10,786,000 |
| FY2003 | $4,066,300 |
| FY2002 | $2,620,000 |
| FY2001 | $538,569 |
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Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 10.854?
Assistance Listing 10.854 is Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants, a federal grant program run by Rural Business Cooperative Services (Washington Office).
What is the CFDA number for Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants?
Its CFDA number is 10.854: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 10.854 awarded?
745 grant awards under 10.854 have obligated $208,657,993 in federal funds to 272 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 10.854?
The recipients obligated the most under Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants are Four County Electric Membership Corporation ($7,140,000), Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation ($6,798,863) and Piedmont Electric Membership Corp ($5,190,000).
How much did 10.854 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 10.854 obligated $8,998,597 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 10.854?
No opportunity listed under 10.854 is open now. The latest, Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant, was posted on August 26, 2024.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
- Every grant award and opportunity under it
- Funding by recipient, agency and assistance type
- Alerts for new opportunities
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