We are committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in rural America.
This grant program aims to support the growth and development of small rural businesses with technical assistance and training. Eligible businesses are defined as having fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue. The program focuses on aiding projects that benefit rural areas or towns with populations outside urban peripheries of cities with 50,000 or more people. It covers a broad range of uses, including training, business counseling, acquisition or development of land, construction, renovation, pollution control, capitalization of revolving loan funds, distance learning, rural transportation improvement, community economic development, technology-based economic development, feasibility studies, business plans, leadership and entrepreneurship training, rural business incubators, and long-term strategic planning. There's an emphasis on smaller grant requests without a maximum amount specified, and there are no cost-sharing requirements. Opportunity grants are capped at 10% of the total program funding annually.