USDA Rural Development South Dakota Acting State Director Bruce Jones has announced the agency is accepting applications for the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program.
“This grant promotes long-term economic growth and community vitality in rural areas,” said Jones. “We encourage non-profits, tribes and public agencies to apply.”
The Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) is designed to assist with startup and expansion of small and emerging private businesses and/or nonprofits in rural communities. Eligible applicants include public bodies, government entities, Indian tribes, and non-profit organizations. Funds can be used for business incubators, leadership and entrepreneur training, acquisition or development of land or buildings, capitalization of revolving loan funds to be re-lent to local businesses and many other purposes – all to assist small businesses.
For example in 2016, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate (SWO), utilized RBDG funds for a market assessment of value-added foods in demand in the market area, plus a farm-level feasibility study for local food producers located in a poverty and StrikeForce area. “The RBDG was a very competitive grant and we greatly appreciate that we were selected and received funding from USDA. This grant will provide us the opportunity to conduct a feasibility study and marketing assessment of our locally grown products, which are our buffalo, honey, produce and walleye. This has the potential to open many doors for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and its membership,” said Ella Robertson, Planning Department Director for SWO.
Funds have been set aside nationally to assist Native Americans, and additional monies will be allotted among the states for non-set aside applicants. All grants will be awarded competitively, based on several areas including:
• Evidence showing job creation to occur with local businesses;
• Percent of nonfederal funding committed to the project;
• Economic need in the area to be served;
• Consistency with local economic development priorities; and
• Experience of the grantee with similar efforts.
Two pools of grants funds are available, the Native American set-aside and statewide funding. The first deadline is March 31, 2017 for the Native American grant funds. The second deadline is for the RBDG statewide allocation, estimated to be about $150,000 and the deadline for that grant is April 28, 2017.
Applicants are encouraged to contact a local Business & Cooperative Program Specialist or the State Office for more details about the application requirements and process:
Dana Kleinsasser, Rural Business & Cooperative Programs Director (Huron State Office)
Phone: (605) 352-1142
Email: dana.kleinsasser@sd.usda.gov
Cayla Hilbrands, Assistant (Huron State Office)
Phone: (605) 352-1142
Email: cayla.hilbrands@sd.usda.gov
Shelby Kraemer, Assistant (Aberdeen)
Phone: (605) 226-3360, Ext. 4
Email: shelby.kraemer@sd.usda.gov
Gary Wedel, Specialist (Mitchell)
Phone: (605) 996-1564, Ext. 105
Email: gary.wedel@sd.usda.gov
Clark Guthmiller, Specialist (Pierre)
Phone: (605) 224-8870, Ext. 120
Email: clark.guthmiller@sd.usda.gov
Hettianne Cekalla, Specialist (Rapid City)
Phone: (605) 342-0301, Ext. 118
Email: hettianne.cekalla@sd.usda.gov
Jolene Pravecek, Specialist (Yankton)
Phone: (605) 665-2662, Ext. 116
Email: jolene.pravecek@sd.usda.gov
Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (@USDARD) has invested nearly $13 billion to start or expand nearly 112,000 rural businesses; and invested $38.2 billion in 1,057 electric projects that have financed more than 198,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines serving 4.6 million rural residents. USDA also helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; funded nearly 9,200 community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care facilities; and helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results. To read more about USDA’s investments in rural America and its successful turnaround, visit USDA's entry on Medium.com, Rural America Is Back in Business.