The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the “Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG)” program under the funding opportunity number RDBCP-RBDG-2024. Released on December 12, 2023, this discretionary grant is aimed at supporting the growth and development of small rural businesses. The program is specifically designed to offer technical assistance and training to businesses that have fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue.
This initiative falls under the category of Business and Commerce, with the primary goal of promoting economic development and job creation in rural areas. The USDA expects to award approximately 450 grants through this program. Applications will compete in two separate categories: business opportunity grants and business enterprise grants. These grants will fund various business and community projects that serve rural areas, including towns, communities, state agencies, authorities, non-profit corporations, institutions of higher education, federally-recognized tribes, and rural cooperatives organized as private non-profit corporations. The closing date for applications is February 28, 2024, and applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. local time in the USDA Rural Development State Office for the State where the Project is located. This funding opportunity represents a significant investment in rural communities, aiming to enhance their economic stability and growth potential.
Opportunity ID: 351446
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | RDBCP-RBDG-2024 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Business and Commerce |
| Category Explanation: | This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue. |
| Expected Number of Awards: | 450 |
| CFDA Number(s): | 10.351 — Rural Business Development Grant |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | No |
| Version: | Synopsis 3 |
| Posted Date: | Dec 12, 2023 |
| Last Updated Date: | Dec 12, 2023 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Feb 28, 2024 Complete applications may be submitted in paper or electronic format and must be received by 4:30 p.m. local time on February 28, 2023, in the USDA Rural Development State Office for the State where the Project is located. Late submissions will not be considered |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Feb 28, 2024 Complete applications may be submitted in paper or electronic format and must be received by 4:30 p.m. local time on February 28, 2024, in the USDA Rural Development State Office for the State where the Project is located. Late submissions will not be considered |
| Archive Date: | Apr 10, 2024 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | |
| Award Ceiling: | $ |
| Award Floor: | $ |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) City or township governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | Rural public entities including, but not limited to:Towns, Communities, State agencies, Authorities, Nonprofit corporations, Institutions of higher education, Federally-recognized tribes, Rural cooperatives (if organized as a private nonprofit corporation). |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Rural Business-Cooperative Service |
| Description: | 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. |
| Link to Additional Information: | Link to program Web site |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: Cindy Mason
Program Manager |