USDA Seeks Applications for Loans and Grants to Expand Markets for Rural Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden has announced that USDA is accepting applications for loans and grants to expand access to new and better markets for rural small business owners and entrepreneurs.

The Department is making approximately $22 million available in funding through the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP).

USDA is particularly interested in applications that will advance Biden-Harris Administration priorities to:

• Reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.
• Ensure all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development (RD) programs and benefits from RD-funded projects; and
• Help rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.

Applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development in Montana state office in Bozeman not later than 2:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) by the following dates:

• First Quarter: Sept. 30, 2024
• Second Quarter: Dec. 31, 2024
• Third Quarter: March 31, 2025
• Fourth Quarter: June 30, 2025

To learn more about the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program in Montana, contact Lad R. Barney at [email protected].

Additional information is available on page 67411 of the Aug. 20, 2024, Federal Register.

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