Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program

USDA Intermediary Relending ProgramSeeks to improve economic development, create employment opportunities, and reduce poverty in rural areas, especially disadvantaged and isolated communities. Offers 1% low-interest loans to local lenders known as intermediaries, that then re-lend funds to businesses in rural communities to foster community development.

AmeriCorps State and National Native Nations GrantsAwards funding to tribes and tribal organizations to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions and practices to strengthen tribal communities.

Distance Learning & Telemedicine GrantsFunds telecommunication projects that support distance learning and telemedicine services to increase access to education, training, and healthcare resources for students, teachers, medical professionals, and residents in rural areas. Emphasizes telecommunication projects that address substance use disorders (SUDs), including opioid misuse.

Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)Increases communities’ access to locally and regionally produced food and agricultural products by developing, coordinating, and expanding direct producer-to-consumer operations and activities, such as domestic farmer’s markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, agritourism activities, online sales, or other market opportunities. Builds organizational capacity and provides outreach, training, and technical assistance in order to help producers achieve a greater impact on local and regional food systems.

Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP)Develops, coordinates, and expands local and regional food business enterprises that function as intermediaries for indirect producer-to-consumer marketing with the goal of making local and regional agricultural products more available and accessible to communities. Supports both planning and implementation activities to establish, improve, or expand local or regional food businesses. Assists businesses through feasibility studies, market research, training, and technical assistance to strengthen food system infrastructure and increase sales of locally and regionally produced agricultural products.

Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP)Promotes partnerships able to connect and utilize public and private resources to strengthen regional food systems. Supports partnerships to improve viability and resilience of the local or regional food economy.

Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program (REDLG)Offers grants and zero-interest loans to local utility organizations who provide funding options for local businesses. Supports economic development in rural areas by funding projects designed to create or preserve job opportunities.

Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance ProgramProvides microenterprise development organizations (MDOs) with loans and grants to help establish and expand microenterprises through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund. Helps microloan borrowers and microentrepreneurs receive training and technical assistance.

AmeriCorps State Formula GrantsAwards formula funding through a governor-appointed State or Territory Service Commission to organizations that engage AmeriCorps members to build capacity, expand services, and help communities address their needs through service and volunteer activities. Focuses service projects on six areas: disaster services, economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, environmental stewardship, and healthy futures. Includes service projects related to substance misuse. Supports evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions, practices, and program models.

Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Loan ProgramProvides loan funds to farmers and ranchers who are in their first 10 years of operation to assist them in establishing prosperous and competitive farms and ranches. Helps new farmers and ranchers finance normal operating expenses, purchase land and capital, access new markets and marketing opportunities, diversify operations, pay family living expenses, and more. Funding can be accessed through one of the following four USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan programs: Farm Operating Loans, Farm Ownership Loans, Guaranteed Farm Loans, and Microloans Programs.

Business & Industry Loan GuaranteesOffers programs to guarantee loans to rural businesses to increase access to business capital and improve rural economies. Allows commercial lenders to offer affordable financing to rural businesses to support business operations and create or preserve employment opportunities.

Economic Development Assistance Programs (EDAP): Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Program (PWEAA)Supports the planning and implementation of economic development and revitalization projects in areas facing economic disruption and hardship, including rural and American Indian and Alaska Native tribal communities. Helps communities attract investment, create and retain new businesses and jobs, provide job training and education opportunities for dislocated workers, and enhance technology and infrastructure.

EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance ProgramsProvides economically distressed areas, including rural and tribal communities, with resources to address their individual economic needs with the goal of creating and retaining jobs, developing workforce, advancing innovation, and increasing private investments. Supports strategies that build regional assets and provide local and regional capacity building and economic development.

Microloan ProgramsOffers microloans focused on the credit needs of small and beginning, niche and non-traditional farm operations, including truck farms, hydroponic, aquaponic, and organic producers, as well as direct marketing and sales through farmer’s markets, community-supported agriculture, restaurants, and grocery stores. Loans may be used to make a down payment on a farm; build, repair, or improve farm buildings and facilities; purchase livestock, seed, and fertilizer; pay land rents, utilities, family living expenses, and other costs essential to starting and maintaining successful farm operations.

Minority and Women Farmers and Ranchers Loan ProgramProvides loan funds to historically underserved farmers and ranchers through all of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan programs. Funds from each loan program are set aside to specifically target farmers and ranchers who are women, African Americans, Alaskan Natives, American Indians, Hispanic, Asian, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Eligible FSA loan programs include Guaranteed Farm Loans, Farm Operating Loans, Farm Ownership Loans, Microloan Programs, and Youth Loans.

Rural Business Investment ProgramProvides licenses to newly formed, for-profit entities to operate as a Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC). RBICs make equity capital investments in small, rural enterprises that may otherwise have difficulty accessing venture capital. Seeks to develop economies, create wealth, and increase job opportunities for people living in rural communities.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Guaranteed LoansAssists small businesses in securing loans to support their business operations. Provides financial guarantees and sets guidelines for lenders in order to make loans easier to access for eligible businesses. Loans can be used to pay for long-term fixed assets, such as real estate, equipment, machinery, construction, and remodeling, or as working capital for seasonal financing, revolving credit, export loans, and refinancing debt.

Strategic Economic and Community DevelopmentSupports regional economic development plans for rural areas by giving funding priority to multi-jurisdictional projects implemented through USDA Rural Development programs. Projects are intended to build community prosperity by using community assets, identifying resources, convening partners, and leveraging federal, state, local or private funding.

Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Loan GuaranteesAims to improve rural communications and economic development by providing loans and technical assistance to build, improve, and further develop telecommunication services in rural communities.

Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative InactiveFunds economic revitalization projects in the Appalachian region focused on building businesses, workforce ecosystems, infrastructure, culture and tourism, and leadership capacity to meet Appalachian Regional Commission’s strategic investment goals. Gives priority to investments for building a competitive workforce, fostering entrepreneurial activities, developing industry clusters, and broadband initiatives.

Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG) InactiveOffers funding to support technical assistance and training for rural businesses that have fewer than 50 new workers and generate a gross revenue less than $1,000,000. Funds can also be used on projects to support and benefit rural businesses as specified in the grant application. Supports the expansion of rural businesses through economic development, planning, and other related activities.

USDA Community Connect Grants InactiveAwards grants for the deployment of broadband in rural communities where private sector internet service providers are unable to develop the infrastructure to provide broadband service due to economic and cost challenges. Support internet services to foster economic development and employment, and improve educational and healthcare opportunities in eligible areas.

Provides funding to intermediary organizations that offer financial and technical assistance to recipients to help meet the needs of their communities in eligible rural areas. Recipients use funds for projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development projects in rural communities.