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USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help Socially-Disadvantaged Rural Businesses

Name
Erin McDuff
Email
erin.mcduff@or.usda.gov
Phone
(503) 414-3304
City
Portland
Release Date

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is seeking applications for grants to provide assistance to socially-disadvantaged business groups in rural areas, announced State Director Vicki Walker today.

The funding is being provided through the Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG) Program. Under this program, USDA provides grants to local cooperatives and other organizations that provide technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups in rural areas. Examples of technical assistance include providing leadership training, conducting feasibility studies, and developing business and strategic plans.

Applicants eligible for these grants include groups of cooperatives, individual cooperatives, and cooperative development centers that serve socially-disadvantaged groups. The cooperatives or cooperative development centers can be based in any area, but the groups that receive technical assistance must be located in an eligible rural area. USDA is encouraging applications for projects in census tracts with poverty rates of 20 percent or higher.

Up to $3 million in grants is being made available nationwide under this announcement. The maximum award a recipient may receive is $175,000. All grants are awarded through a national competition. More information on how to apply can be found on page 36254 of the June 6, 2016, Federal Register. Paper applications must be submitted by August 5, 2016, or electronically by August 1, 2016.

USDA awarded 126 grants totaling $19.5 million through the Socially-Disadvantaged Groups Grant Program between 2009 and 2015. Since 2009, USDA Rural Development (#USDARDImage removed.) has also invested $11 billion to start or expand 103,000 rural businesses; helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; funded nearly 7,000 community facilities, such as schools, public safety, and healthcare facilities; financed 185,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines; and helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov/results.