RD-RBCS-23-RMAP: Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Rural Business-Cooperative Service notices from 2022.
Rural Business-Cooperative Service offered grants of up to $500,000 to nonprofits, colleges and universities and tribes. It expected to make about 20 awards. Applications closed on June 30, 2023.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed August 31, 2022. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$500,000
- Expected awards20
- Cost sharingRequired
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| RD-RBCS-26-RMAP | February 26, 2026 | Closed June 30, 2026 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | August 31, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | June 30, 2023 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | July 30, 2023 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to nonprofits, colleges and universities and tribes.
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
The following are eligible to be a Microenterprise Development Organization:Nonprofits. Federally-recognized tribes. Institutions of higher education. The following are eligible to apply for a loan from the MDO as an ultimate recipient:Businesses located in an eligible area with 10 or fewer full-time employees.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program awards averaged $49,915; this notice allows up to $500,000 per award.
- The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.
What the grant funds
What does this program do? It provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to: To help microenterprises startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund. Provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs. Who may apply for this program? The following are eligible to be a Microenterprise Development Organization: Nonprofits. Federally-recognized tribes. Institutions of higher education. The following are eligible to apply for a loan from the MDO as an ultimate recipient: Businesses located in an eligible area with 10 or fewer full-time employees. What is an eligible area? Rural areas outside a city or town with a population of fewer than 50,000 residents. Urbanized areas near a city of 50,000 or more may not be eligible. The borrower’s headquarters may be based within a larger city so long as the project service area is located in an eligible rural area. The lender may be located anywhere.
Who has won Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (10.870) awarded $16.2 million across 325 grant awards, an average of $49,915 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation | Kentucky | 5 | $1.4 million |
| Northern Maine Development Commission, Inc. | Maine | 5 | $1.0 million |
| Maryland Capital Enterprises, Inc. | Maryland | 4 | $561,488 |
| Center for Rural Affairs Community Capital | Nebraska | 5 | $489,722 |
| Nebraska Enterprise Fund | Nebraska | 5 | $456,319 |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is RD-RBCS-23-RMAP still open?
No. It closed on June 30, 2023.
Who can apply for Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program?
Rural Business-Cooperative Service accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities and tribes. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program?
Closed June 30, 2023. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $500,000 each.
Who has won Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation, Northern Maine Development Commission, Inc., Maryland Capital Enterprises, Inc. The program made 325 awards worth $16.2 million in that time.
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