Eligibility RequirementsApplicants for the RCDG program must meet all the requirements discussed in this RFA. Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline may result in exclusion from consideration or preclude NIFA from making an award. For those new to Federal financial assistance, NIFA’s About Grants provides highly recommended information about grants and other resources to help understand the Federal awards process.Applications will only be accepted from nonprofit institutions. A “nonprofit institution” is defined as any organization or institution, including an accredited institution of higher education, no part of the net earnings of which inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4284.520(a). Applicants are ineligible for assistance through this program if one or more of the items defined in 7 CFR 4284.520(b) occurs.As defined in 7 CFR 4284.522(a), eligible projects must meet all of the following requirements. Failure to meet one or more of these requirements means that the application will not be considered for funding.1. Rurality – All Project activities must serve individuals, Cooperatives and Mutually Owned Businesses, small businesses, or other similar entities in Rural Areas.2. Project Focus – The Project must focus on establishing or operating a Center with the goals of creating jobs in Rural Areas through the development of new Rural Cooperatives, Value-Added processing, and Rural businesses.3. Amount Requested – The amount requested must not exceed the maximum amounts specified in Table 2 of this notice.4. Matching Funds – Matching Funds must be provided as detailed in Part III, B.USDA will not accept competitive applications that include activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy; racial justice; or support for mobile home cooperatives.USDA will not accept competitive applications for grants and cooperative agreements submitted for due dates after June 20, 2025, and/or research and development (R&D) contract proposals submitted to solicitations issued after June 20, 2025, for dangerous gain-of-function research, as defined in Section 8 of E.O. 14292.An Applicant may submit only one application in response to a solicitation. All applications submitted, regardless of the Applicant entity name, that include the same Executive Director, employees, Board, advisory boards or

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