Funding Wizard

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service announces the availability of $3,000,000 in competitive grant funds for the FY 2023 Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG) program. The purpose of this program is to provide technical assistance to Socially-Disadvantaged Groups in rural areas. Eligible applicants include Cooperatives, Groups of Cooperatives, and Cooperative Development Centers. This program supports Rural Development’s (RD) mission of improving the quality of life for rural Americans and commitment to directing resources to those who most need them.

The objective of this grant program is to assist viable Independent Producers, Agricultural Producer Groups, Farmer and Rancher Cooperatives, and Majority-Controlled Producer-Based Businesses in starting or expanding value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of Value-Added Agricultural Products. Grants will be awarded competitively for either planning or working capital projects directly related to the processing and/or marketing of value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the end goals of the program. All proposals must demonstrate economic viability and sustainability to compete for funding.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS, Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), invites applications under the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) program for fiscal year (FY) 2023, subject to the availability of funding. The Agency has $2,000,000 available for the RISE Program for FY 2023. Selected applicants will use Agency grant funds to provide financial assistance in support of innovation centers and job accelerator programs that improve the ability of distressed rural communities to create high wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, and help rural communities identify and maximize local assets.

The purpose of the program is to promote economic development and job creation projects through the awarding of grant funds to eligible entities. Applicationswill compete in two separate categories, business opportunity grants and business enterprise grants, for use in funding various business and community projects that serve rural areas.

See notice available at: 2022-27359.pdf (govinfo.gov)

See review Notice available at: 2022-27359.pdf (govinfo.gov)

The primary objective of the program is to provide grants to Agriculture Innovation Centers that will provide technical assistance to agricultural producers to market value-added agricultural products.

The purpose of FPEP is to expand capacity, improve competition, and increase supply chain resilience within the agricultural fertilizer and nutrient management sector, in connection with the production of agricultural commodities. To meet its purpose, FPEP will support the production of agricultural commodities through the manufacturing and processing of fertilizer and nutrient alternatives.Entities are eligible regardless of legal structure and may include, but are not limited to, Tribes, Tribal entities, for‐profit entities, corporations, non‐profit entities, producer‐owned cooperatives and corporations, certified benefit corporations, and state or local government entities. Private entities must be independently owned and operated.Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Ensure that all components of the application are complete before submission. Allow enough time for the application process, as it may take more than one attempt before your application is successfully submitted. RBCSencourages you to submit your application at least two weeks prior to the application deadline to ensure all certifications and registrations are met.This RFA provides two application submission windows. Applicants must submit applications via Grants.gov. Applications must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on:• 45 days (November 14, 2022) after the date of posting, for applicants requesting financial assistance for eligible projects under the program. Priority will be given to projects that increase the availability of fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphate or potash) and nutrient alternatives to agricultural producers for use in crop years 2023 and 2024; and• 90 days (December 29, 2022) after the date of posting, for applicants requesting financial assistance for eligible projects under the program.Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered for funding. An application is considered on time if it is received by the Agency by 11:59 pm Eastern Time..

What does this program do?It provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to:To help microenterprises startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund.Provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs. Who may apply for this program?The following are eligible to be a Microenterprise Development Organization:Nonprofits.Federally-recognized tribes.Institutions of higher education.The following are eligible to apply for a loan from the MDO as an ultimate recipient:Businesses located in an eligible area with 10 or fewer full-time employees.What is an eligible area?Rural areas outside a city or town with a population of fewer than 50,000 residents. Urbanized areas near a city of 50,000 or more may not be eligible.The borrower’s headquarters may be based within a larger city so long as the project service area is located in an eligible rural area.The lender may be located anywhere.

The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. The ultimate recipients repay the lending utility directly. The utility then is responsible for repayment to USDA. USDA provides grants to local utility organizations which use the funding to establish Revolving Loan Funds (RLF). Loans are made from the revolving loan funds to projects that will create or retain rural jobs. When the revolving loan fund is terminated, the grant is repaid to USDA.The Agency anticipates the following maximum amounts per award: Loans - $2,000,000; Grants - $300,000.