State Director Bobby Lewis recently announced that USDA is accepting applications for the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program. Grant funds are aimed at helping rural small businesses grow and create jobs. Individual businesses themselves are not eligible to apply. Public bodies and nonprofit entities are eligible to apply for grant funds to support the development and expansion of small and emerging private business enterprises in their rural areas.
“The RBDG program is a great opportunity to help rural communities across West Virginia with much-needed financial assistance,” Lewis said. “I encourage any eligible entity that helps provide development opportunities for small rural businesses to apply for this program.”
RBDG grant funds can be used for technical assistance, training and other activities that support the business development of small business enterprises in rural areas. The grant can also be used to benefit small rural businesses through acquiring or developing land, buildings, and equipment, establishing a revolving loan fund, guiding the development of a plan, or supporting rural distance learning programs that provide educational job training to adult entrepreneurs.
Based on Fiscal Year 2015 funding, USDA Rural Development in West Virginia anticipates a Fiscal Year 2016 allocation of $300,000 for Enterprise Grant purposes and $33,000 for Opportunity Grant purposes. Applicants are encouraged to apply for any amount up to $50,000. Applications must be received by April 27, 2016. If an organization is interested in applying for funds, applicants are encouraged to contact USDA at 304-284-4882 or 304-284-4871 to discuss the project and eligibility criteria.
For additional information, please visit the agency’s website at the following address: http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-business-development-grants.