# Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants (10.854)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/10-854-rural-economic-development-loans-and-grants/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants is run by Department of Agriculture. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $43.1 million in 155 grants, about $277,780 per award.

## Objectives

The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Programs provide funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. The ultimate recipients repay the lending utility directly. The utility then is responsible for repayment to USDA.
USDA provides grants to local utility organizations which use the funding to establish Revolving Loan Funds (RLF). Loans are made from the revolving loan funds to projects that will create or retain rural jobs. When the revolving loan fund is terminated, the grant is repaid to USDA.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $6.7 million | 25 |
| 2022 | $9.4 million | 35 |
| 2023 | $9.4 million | 33 |
| 2024 | $8.5 million | 30 |
| 2025 | $9.0 million | 32 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Four County Electric Membership Corporation | North Carolina | $3.3 million |
| Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation | North Carolina | $3.1 million |
| Pee Dee Electric Membership Corp | North Carolina | $1.6 million |
| Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative | Missouri | $1.5 million |
| Tri-County Electric Membership Corp | North Carolina | $1.5 million |
| Heartland Consumers Power District | South Dakota | $1.2 million |
| Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative | Iowa | $1.2 million |
| North West Rural Electric Cooperative | Iowa | $1.1 million |
| Randolph Electric Membership Corporation | North Carolina | $1.1 million |
| Macon Electric Cooperative | Missouri | $748,000 |
| Midwest Electric, Inc. | Ohio | $600,000 |
| Edgecombe - Martin County Electric Membership Corporation | North Carolina | $600,000 |
| Spencer Municipal Utilities | Iowa | $600,000 |
| Cozad, City of | Nebraska | $600,000 |
| Central Electric Cooperative Inc | South Dakota | $600,000 |
| Woodbury County Rural Electric Cooperative Association | Iowa | $600,000 |
| Corn Belt Power Cooperative | Iowa | $600,000 |
| San Carlos Apache Telecommunications Utility, Inc. | Arizona | $600,000 |
| Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corp | North Carolina | $580,000 |
| Umatilla Electric Cooperative | Oregon | $550,000 |