Rural Business Enterprise Grants

The RBEG program provides grants for rural projects that finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses help fund business incubators, and help fund employment related adult education programs. To assist with business development, RBEGs may fund a broad array of activities.

Eligible Recipients:
Rural public entities (towns, communities, State agencies, and authorities), Indian tribes and rural private non-profit corporations are eligible to apply for funding. At least 51 percent of the outstanding interest in any project must have membership or be owned by U.S. citizens or resident aliens.

Eligible Projects:
The RBEG program is a broad-based program that reaches to the core of rural development in a number of ways. Examples of eligible fund use include:

  • Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way;
  • Construction, conversion, renovation of buildings, plants, machinery, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, utilities;
  • Pollution control and abatement;
  • Capitalization of revolving loan funds including funds that will make loans for start ups and working capital;
  • Training and technical assistance;
  • Distance adult learning for job training and advancement;
  • Rural transportation improvement; and
  • Project planning.

Any project funded under the RBEG program should benefit small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. Small and emerging private businesses are those that will employ 50 or fewer new employees and have less than $1 million in projected gross revenues.

Funding Source:
USDA Rural Development

Funding Amount:
$10,000 to $500,000

Deadline:
Recurring

Contact:
USDA Rural Development State Office
441 South Salina St.
Suite 357
Syracuse, NY 13202
315-477-6400
Fax: 315-477-6438

More Information:
http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/intermediary-relending-program