# Rural Business Development Grant Program

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/rdbcp-rbdg-2026-rural-business-development-grant-program/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/362398

> Rural Business-Cooperative Service offered grants to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments and tribes. It expected to make about 450 awards worth $27.7 million in total. Applications closed on June 30, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | RDBCP-RBDG-2026 |
| Agency | Rural Business-Cooperative Service |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | June 30, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | not stated |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | 450 |
| Total funding | $27.7 million |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 10.351 |

## Who can apply

- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- 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

Rural public entities including, but not limited to: Towns, Communities, State agencies, Authorities, Nonprofit corporations, Institutions of higher education, Federally-recognized tribes, Rural cooperatives (if organized as a private nonprofit corporation).This program is only open to a Public Body/Government Entity, Federally Recognized Indian Tribe or a Nonprofit entity serving rural areas. For profit entities, individuals and individual businesses are not eligible to receive grants under this program.

## What the grant funds

The purpose of the program is to promote economic development and job creation projects through the awarding of grant funds to eligible entities. 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.

## Questions people ask

### Is RDBCP-RBDG-2026 still open?

No. It closed on June 30, 2026.

### Who can apply for Rural Business Development Grant Program?

Rural Business-Cooperative Service accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments and tribes. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Rural Business Development Grant Program?

Closed June 30, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

About $27.7 million in total across about 450 awards.

### Who has won Rural Business Development Grant grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Northern Border Regional Commission, National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation, Inc., Nebraska Indian Community College. The program made 1,965 awards worth $181 million in that time.