Opportunity Listing - Rural Business Development Grant Program

Rural Business Development Grant Program

Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Assistance Listings: 10.351 -- Rural Business Development Grant

Last Updated: May 14, 2026

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.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Government

State governments
Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
County governments
Special district governments
City or township governments

Nonprofit

Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)

Education

Public and state institutions of higher education

Additional information

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).This program is only open to a Public Body/Government Entity, Federally Recognized Indian Tribe or a Nonprofit entity serving rural areas. For profit entities, individuals and individual businesses are not eligible to receive grants under this program.

Grantor contact information

Description

Rachel Reister Loan & Grant Analyst Rachel.Reister@usda.gov

Email

RBDG Program Contact

Rachel.Reister@usda.gov

Documents

File name	Description	Last updated
RBDG_FY26_NOFO_Grantsgov_Final.pdf	RBDG Notice	May 14, 2026 06:34 PM UTC
RBDG_Application_Toolkit_-_2026.pdf	RBDG Application Toolkit	May 14, 2026 06:35 PM UTC
FR_2026-01934_-_SECD_Notice.pdf	SECD Notice	May 14, 2026 06:39 PM UTC
SECD_Application_Form1980-88.pdf	SECD Application Form 1980-88	May 15, 2026 01:52 PM UTC

Link to additional information

Link to Program Web Site

Closing: June 30, 2026

Please note the RBDG notice has two closing dates for different program types. The first closing date is June 15, 2026 and...

is applicable only to SECD applications. The second closing date is for the remainder of the applications and it is June 30, 2026. Please note, SECD applications also require a specific SECD application in addition to the traditional RBDG application. Complete applications must be submitted in Grants.gov by 4:30 p.m. local time on the due date. Late submissions will not be considered.

Application process

This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.

Award

$27,700,000

Program Funding

450

Expected awards

$--

Award Minimum

$--

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

RDBCP-RBDG-2026

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

Funding instrument type:

Grant

Opportunity Category:

Discretionary

Opportunity Category Explanation:

Category of Funding Activity:

Business and commerce

Category Explanation:

History

Version:

Posted date:

May 15, 2026

Archive date:

July 30, 2026