Deadline: Varies by state; anticipated November 2017.
Amount: An unspecified amount of funding is available to support awards typically ranging from $10,000 to $500,000 through this program. There is no maximum award amount; however, small requests are given higher priority.
Funding for opportunity awards is limited to 10 percent of the total annual funding for this program.
Eligibility: Local Government, Academic Institutions, Non-Profits
Schools/School Districts, State Government. Funds must benefit rural areas or towns outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more.
The purpose of this program is to support targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities that will support the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses and nonprofit organizations in rural areas. Eligible businesses have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenue. Funds must benefit rural areas or towns outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more.
This program supports the following types of awards:
Enterprise: Projects must benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas. Eligible activities include: Training and technical assistance
- Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; and construction, conversion, or renovation of buildings, plants, machinery, equipment, access for streets and roads, parking areas, utilities, and pollution control abatement of facilities
- Provision of loans for startup operating costs and working capitals
- Reasonable fees and charges for professional services necessary for planning and development projects
- Establishment of a revolving fund to provide financial assistance to third parties through loans
- Establishment, expansion, and operation of rural distance learning networks or development of rural learning programs that provide educational instruction or job training instruction related to potential employment or job advancement for adults students
- Provision of technical assistance for small and emerging businesses, including feasibility studies and business plans
- Provision of technical assistance and training to rural communities for the purposes of improving passenger transportation services or facilities
Opportunity: Eligible activities include: Identifying and analyzing business opportunities that will use local rural materials or human resources
- Identifying, training, and providing technical assistance to existing or prospective rural entrepreneurs and managers
- Establishing business support centers and otherwise assisting in the creation of new rural businesses
- Conducting local community or multicounty economic development planning
- Conducting leadership development training of existing or prospective adult rural entrepreneurs and managers
- Establishing centers for training, technology, and trade that will provide training to rural businesses
- Paying reasonable fees and charges for professional services necessary to conduct technical assistance, training, or planning functions