The Rural Business Opportunity Grant Program is primarily a training and technical assistance grant program. Funds may be provided for development of export markets; feasibility studies; development of long term trade strategies; community economic development planning; business training and business based technical assistance for rural entrepreneurs and business managers; establishment of rural business incubators; and assistance with technology based economic development. The types of projects that may be funded might include identification/analysis of business opportunities that will utilize local material and human resources; provision of leadership development training to existing or prospective rural entrepreneurs and managers; business support centers; centers for training, technology and export trade; and, economic development planning. The maximum grant for a project serving a single states is $50,000. The maximum grant for a project serving two or more states is $150,000. Follow this link for a list of rural development state offices: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=us&agency=rd.
Rural public bodies, rural nonprofit corporations, rural Indian tribes, and cooperatives with primarily rural members that conduct activities for the mutual benefit of the membership are eligible provided they have sufficient financial strength and expertise to carry out the activity to be funded.
