Rural Business Development Grants 2026

About

A funding program designed to support economic development and job creation projects in rural areas, providing financial assistance to eligible government entities, nonprofits, and public institutions. Participants can apply for two types of grants aimed at fostering business opportunities and enterprises, with a significant total funding pool available to support various initiatives.

Benefits

• 💰Funding Support
  Funding for economic development and job creation projects
• 🎉Grant Categories
  Two categories of grants: business opportunity grants and business enterprise grants
• 💵Total Funding
  Total funding available is $27,700,000

Eligibility Criteria

• Government entities (County, State, City, Tribal)
• Nonprofits (501(c)(3) organizations)
• Public and state institutions of higher education
• Rural public entities including towns, communities, and authorities

Participation Commitments

• Applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. local time on the application due date
• Projects must be initiated between June 1, 2026, and September 30, 2028
• Projects must be expected to be completed within one year after initiation

Target Region

United States

Target Sector

All sectors