Rural Business Development Grants

Choose the appropriate state in the drop down menu towards the center on the program website. This will open the state specific page. Tabs at the top of the page will show general program information, forms and resources, and state specific contact information.

Rural Business Development Grants support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. 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.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

• Training and technical assistance, such as:
  • Project planning
  • Business counseling/training
  • Market research
  • Feasibility studies
  • Professional or technical reports
  • Product and service improvements
• Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation of buildings, plants, machinery, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, and utilities
• Pollution control and abatement
• Capitalization of revolving loan funds including funds that will make loans for start-ups and working capital
• Distance adult learning for job training and advancement
• Rural transportation improvement
• Community economic development
• Technology-based economic development
• Feasibility studies and business plans
• Leadership and entrepreneur training
• Rural business incubators
• Long-term business strategic planning

Eligible applicants include public bodies, government entities, federally recognized Tribes, and nonprofit organizations primarily serving rural areas.

Estimated number of awards: 450
Estimated total program funding: $27,700,000

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

Opportunity type grants are limited to up to 10% of the total annual funding. Enterprise type grants must be used on projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas as specified in the grant application.

A link to the application instructions is available on the program website and grants.gov.

Applicants should contact local or state offices to learn about state-specific application timelines and requirements.

The program has two different closing dates.

1. June 15, 2026 for Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) applications
2. June 30, 2026 for all other applicants

Application toolkit