USDA Rural Business Development Grants
Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG)
Closed for now
Next notice not yet published
No maximum grant amount; smaller requests prioritised
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (Rural Business-Cooperative Service)
public · national
Deadline: One call a year — 2026 notice closed June 15, 2026 (SECD applications) and June 30, 2026 (all others), via Grants.gov
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.
Who can apply
- Up to 50 employees
- Turnover up to 1,000,000
- micro enterprises
- Sectors: agri, any
- Stage: idea stage, pre-seed and seed
- Locally registered entity required
Applicants are public bodies, Indian Tribes or nonprofits primarily serving rural areas; funds benefit small and emerging rural businesses. No maximum grant; smaller requests get priority.
How to apply
- As a startup, identify a local eligible applicant (public body, federally recognised Tribe or rural-serving non-profit) willing to sponsor a project that benefits your business - you cannot apply directly. — link
- The applicant organisation registers in SAM.gov (UEI) and Grants.gov. — link
- Submit the complete application in grants.gov by 4:30 p.m. local time on the closing date.
What you will need
- Project proposal describing the small and emerging business to be assisted
- Evidence of applicant eligibility (public body, Tribe or non-profit status)
- SAM.gov registration with UEI
Related reading: How grant deadlines actually work · The EU SME definition (Recommendation 2003/361)
Source. https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-business-development-grants
"There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority."
Last checked against the official page on 5 October 2026
Source: www.rd.usda.gov
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