The United States Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for loans and grants to support
business expansion, create jobs and increase economic opportunities in rural communities.
Funding is being provided through USDA’s Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program. The 2014 Farm Bill
reauthorized the program through 2018. For Fiscal Year 2015, more than $16 million is available in loans
and grants.
Application are available at any USDA Rural Development state office.
RMAP provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations to help microentrepreneurs –
small businesses with 10 or fewer employees – access capital to start or grow businesses. MDOs use the
funds to provide training and technical assistance to small businesses or to establish revolving loan
funds that provide micro-loans, typically $5,000-$50,000, to rural microentrepreneurs.
Since 2009, USDA Rural Development has invested $72.2 million to support more than 390 projects.