On Friday, July 1, USDA announced the availability of funding for its Rural Business Opportunity Grants program (RBOG). Nonprofit corporations, public bodies, Indian Tribes, and cooperatives whose members are primarily rural residents may apply for up to $50,000 for a project in one state, or for up to $150,000 for a multi-state application.
RBOG awards support projects up to two years in length that promote sustainable economic development in rural areas that are experiencing natural disasters, persistent poverty, or a decline in employment or population. For fiscal year 2011, approximately $2.5 million is available, $990,000 of which is reserved for projects benefiting Federally Recognized Native American Tribes (FRNAT) in rural areas.
Priority is given to applications that propose regional economic development activities in the key strategy areas of:
- creating or supporting local and regional food systems (especially supporting the creation of retail outlets of healthy foods in areas that lack sufficient outlets)
- creating or supporting renewable energy generation
- using broadband or other critical infrastructure to create economic development
- creating or supporting access to capital in rural areas, and
- creating or supporting innovative utilization of natural resources for economic development.
Contact your state USDA Rural Development Office for more information and to obtain an application.