The Rural Enterprise Grant program provides grant funding for rural projects that finance and facilitate development of small and emerging rural businesses (those that employ 50 or fewer new employees and have less than $1 million in projected gross revenues), rural business incubators, and rural employment related adult education programs. Grant funding is for rural development including acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation, of buildings, plants, machinery, equipment, access streets and roads, parking areas, utilities; pollution control and abatement; capitalization of revolving loan funds including funds that will make loans for start ups and working capital; training and technical assistance; distance adult learning for job training and advancement; rural transportation improvement; and project planning. There is no maximum level of grant funding. However, smaller projects are given higher priority. Generally grants range $10,000 up to $500,000. Follow this link for contact information: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.
Rural public entities (towns, communities, State agencies, and authorities), Indian tribes, and rural private non-profit corporations are eligible to apply for funding. At least 51 percent of the outstanding interest in any project must have membership or be owned by U.S. citizens or resident aliens.
