Rural Business Development Grant (10.351)
Rural Business Development Grant (Assistance Listing 10.351) is run by the Rural Business Cooperative Service, part of the Department of Agriculture. It awarded $181 million in 1,965 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $92,322 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $73,926. Half of the 1,965 awards fell between $36,000 and $99,500, and they ranged from $666 to $3.0 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$181 million
- Grant awards1,965
- Typical award$73,926
- Awarded in FY 2025$30.1 million
- Size rank633 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceProject grants
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $36.8 million in fiscal 2021 to $30.1 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 633rd largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 21% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 54 states and territories.
What the program funds
To promote sustainable economic development and facilitate the development of small and emerging private business, industry, and related employment for improving the economy in rural communities.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Applicants eligible for RBDG grants are government entities, Indian tribes or nonprofit corporations serving rural areas such as States, counties, cities, townships, and incorporated towns and villages, boroughs, authorities, districts and Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations which will serve rural areas. Rural area for this program is defined as a city, town, or unincorporated area that has a population of 50,000 inhabitants or less, other than an urbanized area immediately adjacent to a city, town, or unincorporated area that has a population in excess of 50,000 inhabitants.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Rural business development grants (RBDG) provide Business opportunity, Business enterprise . Funds may be used to assist in the economic development of rural areas by providing technical assistance, training, and planning for businesses. Business enterprise type grants may be used to create, expand, or operate rural distance learning networks or programs that provide educational or job training instruction related to potential employment or job advancement for adult students; develop, construct or acquisition land, buildings, plants, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, utility extensions, necessary water supply and waste disposal facilities; refinancing; services and fees; and to establish a revolving loan fund. Rural business development grants (RBDG) provides for Business opportunity, Business enterprise . Funds may be used to assist in the economic development of rural areas by providing technical assistance, training, and planning for businesses. Business enterprise type grants may be used to create, expand, or operate rural distance learning networks or programs that provide educational or job training instruction related to potential employment or job advancement for adult students; develop, construct or acquisition land, buildings, plants, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, utility extensions, necessary water supply and waste disposal facilities; refinancing; services and fees; and to establish a revolving loan fund.;
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Award range and average, in the agency's words
$25,000 to $500,000. Average is less than $100,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: This Rural Development investment will be used to prepare a preliminary engineering plan focused on key infrastructure needs for the buildout of 19 remaining acres of commercial and retail space on 30 acres of trust land. This Rural Development investment will be used to benefit Tribal communities by providing critical technical assistance and project management support to increase access to jobs, services, businesses and programs.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Rural Business Development Grant (10.351) awarded $181 million across 1,965 grant awards, an average of $92,322 per award.
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 27% of the money.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 1,382 | $132 million | 73% |
| State and local governments | 583 | $49.0 million | 27% |
By state
49 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 33 | $14.1 million |
| Nebraska | 41 | $7.7 million |
| New York | 70 | $7.1 million |
| Arizona | 61 | $7.0 million |
| Oklahoma | 50 | $7.0 million |
| Texas | 42 | $6.6 million |
| California | 70 | $6.4 million |
| North Carolina | 49 | $5.7 million |
| Ohio | 48 | $5.4 million |
| Vermont | 72 | $5.3 million |
| Michigan | 60 | $5.3 million |
| Missouri | 79 | $5.0 million |
| Georgia | 51 | $5.0 million |
| Kentucky | 40 | $4.8 million |
| Pennsylvania | 52 | $4.7 million |
| Tennessee | 94 | $4.7 million |
| Illinois | 60 | $4.6 million |
| Oregon | 34 | $4.3 million |
| Washington | 76 | $4.3 million |
| District of Columbia | 14 | $4.1 million |
| Puerto Rico | 22 | $3.7 million |
| Arkansas | 41 | $3.7 million |
| Louisiana | 31 | $3.6 million |
| Alabama | 36 | $3.4 million |
| South Carolina | 38 | $3.2 million |
| Indiana | 45 | $3.2 million |
| West Virginia | 49 | $3.0 million |
| Wisconsin | 39 | $2.9 million |
| Minnesota | 32 | $2.9 million |
| Virginia | 25 | $2.9 million |
| New Mexico | 27 | $2.8 million |
| North Dakota | 29 | $2.6 million |
| Maine | 29 | $2.3 million |
| South Dakota | 24 | $2.1 million |
| Iowa | 31 | $2.0 million |
| Massachusetts | 63 | $1.9 million |
| Kansas | 17 | $1.8 million |
| Idaho | 62 | $1.7 million |
| Mississippi | 22 | $1.6 million |
| Florida | 12 | $1.5 million |
| Colorado | 22 | $1.3 million |
| Maryland | 21 | $1.3 million |
| Nevada | 22 | $1.1 million |
| Alaska | 17 | $970,403 |
| Hawaii | 9 | $848,909 |
| New Jersey | 18 | $765,004 |
| Rhode Island | 20 | $681,077 |
| Connecticut | 13 | $520,153 |
| Utah | 9 | $518,860 |
| Delaware | 11 | $490,077 |
| Montana | 22 | $465,718 |
| Wyoming | 8 | $276,717 |
| Guam | 2 | $114,000 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 1 | $50,000 |