USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson announced that the Department is accepting applications for grants to help start, expand, or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses in rural America.
USDA is making $5.8 million in grants available under the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program to help improve economic conditions in rural areas through cooperative development.
Nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply for the available funds to provide technical and cooperative development assistance to individuals and rural businesses.
For FY 2021, the maximum award is $200,000. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis through a national competition.
Electronic applications must be submitted to grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 10, 2021.
Interested applicants are encouraged to contact their local USDA Rural Development State Office well in advance of the application deadline to discuss their project and ask any questions about the RCDG program or the application process. Additional information on the required materials and how to apply for the RCDG program are available on page 31266 of the June 11, 2021, Federal Register.
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