Discovery tool, not advice. Every figure is the published rule, not a decision on your case.

Grants

USDA Rural Business Development Grants

Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG)

Status

Status not published

2026 closing dates: 'June 15, 2026' for Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) applications only, and 'June 30, 2026' for all other applications. 'Complete applications must be submitted in grants.gov by 4:30 p.m. local time on the due date.'

Check with the funder

Amount

Not published

USDA states: 'There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority.' Funds are split between Enterprise Type grants (for specific small and emerging rural businesses) and Opportunity Type grants (for technical assistance, training and planning).

Funder

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (Rural Business-Cooperative Service)

public · national

Deadline: annual_call — 2026 closing dates: 'June 15, 2026' for Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) applications only, and 'June 30, 2026' for all other applications. 'Complete applications must be submitted in grants.gov by 4:30 p.m. local time on the due date.'

Your odds

Not published

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.

Effort

major

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, pre_seed, seed
Locally registered entity required

IMPORTANT: for-profit businesses and individuals CANNOT apply directly. Eligible applicants are limited to 'Public Body/Government Entity', 'Federally Recognized Indian Tribe' and 'Nonprofit entity serving rural areas'. Startups benefit as the ultimate recipients of Enterprise Type grants, which must assist 'small and emerging' rural businesses - USDA's standard definition is fewer than 50 new employees and less than $1 million in projected gross revenue (verify against the current NOFO). Projects must be in rural areas outside urbanised areas of 50,000 or more. The applicant organisation must be registered in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity ID.

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

Apply on the funder's site

Source. https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-business-development-grants — checked 2026-08-14

"There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority."