Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants
Department Of Agriculture, Rural Business Cooperative Service
The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Programs provide 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 us
Jargon-free version
Helps projects that create jobs and boost the economy in rural areas. Grants up to $1.5 million and loans up to $2 million are available.
Quick Facts
Preview our US grants database — free Excel sample
Real Excel sample. Just your email.
You'll also get our weekly grants digest. Unsubscribe anytime.
Free Excel sample of the US Grants Database, contextually offered on the Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants program page.
What Is This Program?
What Benefits Are Offered?
The program provides zero-interest loans from USDA to eligible local utility organizations, which then pass these funds to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that create or retain rural jobs. It also offers grants (up to $300,000) to local utilities to establish Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs), from which loans are made to projects that create or retain rural jobs. Grant funds must be repaid to USDA upon termination of the RLF. The ultimate recipient loans are zero-interest and can cover up to 80% of project costs.
Who Is Eligible?
Industries: electric utilities, telecommunications, non-profit utilities, business development, community development, healthcare, education, training
Region: rural areas, towns with population fewer than 50,000 residents, United States
Other Criteria: Current Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric or telecommunication borrower, Former RUS borrower that has repaid or prepaid an insured, direct or guaranteed loan under the Rural Electrification Act, Any not-for-profit utility that is eligible to receive an insured or direct loan under the Rural Electrification Act, Projects must create and retain employment in rural areas
Chat with Grant experts
Browse our directory of vetted grant professionals who can help with your application.
Browse Partner Directory🏆 Detailed Application Guide
📋What Are the Application Steps & Timeline?
📄What Documents Are Required?
Still searching one grant at a time?
See this grant and hundreds more like this in the database instantly.
💰What Expenses Are Eligible?
🤝Is Matching Funding Required?
📊What Are the Reporting Requirements?
How Do I Apply?
Know a grant consultant who should be listed here? Refer them.
More Programs Like This
Intermediary Relending Program
Department Of Agriculture, Rural Business Cooperative Service
Establish revolving loan funds for the purpose of providing loans to ultimate recipients to promote community developmen...
Rural Business Investment Program
Department Of Agriculture, Rural Business Cooperative Service
To promote economic development and create wealth and job opportunities among individuals living in rural areas and help...
Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans
Department Of Agriculture, Rural Business Cooperative Service
The purpose of the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program is to improve, develop, or finance business, industry, and employment and...
FAQFrequently Asked Questions
Visit the program page for detailed eligibility requirements.
This program offers funding up to $1,000,000.
This program accepts applications on a rolling basis.
Choose your tier
One-time purchase, instant .xlsx download. USD.
Promo codes can be entered at checkout.
Basic
5 columns per program
Quick reference, simple lookups, sales prospecting
- Program title and CFDA number
- Issuing organization + URL
- Short program description
- 2,812 active US federal assistance listings
- .xlsx workbook (README + All Grants tabs)
Pro
24 columns per program
Grant consultants, nonprofit grant writers, proposal teams
- Everything in Basic, plus 23 more columns
- Funding range (min / max) and application deadline
- Eligibility: business sizes, industries, geographic restrictions
- Primary program contact (email, phone)
- Audience + activity tags for filtering (Nonprofits, Universities, etc.)
- Application intake type, submission method, matching required
- "For Nonprofits" tab — 1,500+ programs in one curated view
- Aggregation tabs: By Organization, By Theme, By Audience, Deadlines
Intelligence
49 columns per program
Data teams, AI builders, large grant operations, due-diligence research
- Everything in Pro, plus 25 more deep-extracted columns
- Long-form description + ideal-applicant summary + success tips
- Application steps, required documents, NOFO URLs, key dates
- Eligible / ineligible expenses, expense caps, payment model
- Matching ratios, eligible sources, stacking rules
- Reporting frequency, requirements, single-audit thresholds
- Plain-English 1-2 sentence rewrite of every program
- Contact Directory tab — outreach-ready contact list
A detailed invoice will be emailed to you after purchase. Use it for company reimbursement.