What funding is available for Vermont and New Hampshire?
There is no maximum grant amount for the program, but due to limited allocations, we ask that applications within the Northeast Kingdom (NEK) of Vermont (Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans) a designated Rural Economic Area Partnership zone, be limited to no more than $200,000. All other applications outside the NEK, in Vermont and New Hampshire, will be limited to no more than $50,000. Smaller requests are given higher priority. There is no cost-sharing requirement. Opportunity grants are limited to up to 10 percent of the total Rural Business Development Grant annual funding.
Notice:
This program is only open to a Public Body/Government Entity, Federally Recognized Indian Tribe or a Nonprofit entity serving rural areas. For profit entities, individuals and individual businesses are not eligible to receive grants under this program.
Grants to Provide Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation (RT) Systems
USDA is inviting applications for grants to provide Technical Assistance for passenger Rural
Transportation (RT) Systems under the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program and the
terms for such funding. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-01-02/pdf/2023-28840.pdf
Application Open Date: January 2, 2024
Close Date: April 1, 2024
Notice:
The Federal Register for the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Regulation: Tribes and Tribal Business References to Provide Equitable Access published on December 14, 2023.
What does this program do?
community projects that serve rural areas.
Grants may be made to a Public Body/Government Entity, an Indian Tribe, or a Nonprofit entity primarily serving rural areas.
- Training and technical assistance, such as project planning, business counseling and training, market research, feasibility studies, professional or/technical reports, or producer service improvements.
- Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation of buildings; plants, machinery, equipment, access for streets and roads; parking areas and utilities.
- Pollution control and abatement.
- The capitalization of revolving loan funds, including funds that will make loans for start-ups and working capital.
- Rural distance learning for job training and advancement for adult students.
- Rural transportation improvement.
- Community economic development.
- Technology-based economic development.
- Feasibility studies and business plans.
- Leadership and entrepreneur training.
- Rural business incubators.
- Long-term business strategic planning.
- Community economic development.
- Technology-based economic development.
- Feasibility studies and business plans.
- Leadership and entrepreneur training.
- Rural business incubators.
- Long-term business strategic planning.
- Evidence showing job creation at local businesses.
- Percent of non-federal funding committed to the project.
- Economic need in the area to be served.
- Consistency with local economic development priorities.
- Experience of the grantee with similar efforts.
- Applications are accepted through USDA Rural Development’s local or state offices. Applicants are advised to view program information specific to your local or state office to learn about local application timelines, concept paper requirements, etc.
- Grant awardees will need to complete required paperwork and comply with the terms and conditions of the award. Contact your local or state office for details.
- Contact your local office.
Citations and other information may be subject to change, please always consult the program instructions listed in this section.
Program now accepting applications for FY2024
Grant applications must be received by Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Notice of Solicitation of Funds for Rural Business Developments Grants
RBDG Application Toolkit and Forms
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Form SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance”
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Form SF-424A, “Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs”
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Form SF-424B, “Assurances - Non-Construction Programs”
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Form RD 400-1, “Equal Opportunity Agreement”
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Form 400-8, “Civil Rights Compliance Review”
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Form RD 400-4, “Assurance Agreement”
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Form AD 1047, “Certification Regarding Debarment”
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Form AD 1049, “Certification Regarding Drug Free Workplace”
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RD Inst. 1940-Q, Exh A-1, “Certification for Contracts, Grants, & Loans”
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Form AD-3030, “Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquency Status for Corporate Applicants”
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Form 1980-88, “Strategic Economic and Community Development Priority"
NOTE: If state specific forms are not shown above, please refer to the application materials listed below to start the process of applying. Please ensure that your state is selected in the dropdown menu above to find the State Office contact information for this program and speak to a Business Programs Specialist before attempting to fill out any forms or applications. This will save you valuable time in the process.
Preliminary Actions Required
To complete an application for this program, you must be pre-registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). Neither of these applications cost money, but they can take time so be sure to get this taken care of right away. If you are already registered with these systems, you do not need to do it again.
Special Alert for SAM Registrants
Last year, we alerted our vendor community to third party companies offering to help you update information contained within the System for Award Management (www.SAM.gov) website, for a fee. Your SAM registration contains sensitive business information, including your banking information and other sensitive information, so your login and password should not be shared with anyone outside your company. As a reminder, the use of the System for Award Management website is free to use and update, and the Commodity Procurement Staff does not see a reason to pay anyone to provide that service.
Secondly, we have just become aware of a couple of scam emails that offer to “help companies start the renewal process online” or suggest that “Your Federal Profile is Almost Complete. Immediate Action Required!” In both cases, your free access to SAM.gov will resolve any questions you may have regarding your registration in SAM.gov. As you know SAM.gov requires an annual recertification and sends out email reminders prior to the expiration, and again, updates should be handled by company employees. Furthermore, if your registration is not complete, you may login to SAM.gov to make that determination for yourself.
Please remember that SAM.gov is not affiliated with the USDA and is a government-wide website not maintained by our Agency. If you have any questions regarding access or how to use SAM, please contact their help desk at 866-606-8220, option #1.
There are no additional requirements at the national level. If there are additional state-specific requirements, they will be listed above.
Kenneth Yearman, Business Programs Director
87 State Street, Suite 324
PO Box 249 Montpelier, VT 05602
Phone: (802) 828-6083
Fax: (855) 794-3680
BP.VTNH.Inquiry@usda.gov
Join USDA Business Programs for an RBDG Application Office Hours Session
Thursday, February 8th, 9am on TEAMS.
SEND QUESTIONS TO BP.VTNH.Inquiry@usda.gov
For Audio, dial (202) 650-0123
Conference ID: 420 343 683#
Password: KCd5LT