Rural Business Development Grants in Michigan

The purpose of the Rural Business Development Grants program is to promote economic development and job creation projects through the awarding of grant funds to eligible entities. Applications compete in two separate categories: business opportunity grants and business enterprise grants, for use in funding various business and community projects serving rural areas. Grants are available only to public bodies, government entities, federally recognized Indian tribes, and nonprofit entities primarily serving rural areas; for-profit entities and individuals are not eligible. Projects must benefit rural areas or towns outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more. Opportunity type grants are limited to up to 10 percent of total annual funding, while Enterprise type grants must assist small and emerging businesses in rural areas. Applications are accepted through USDA Rural Development local or state offices and are evaluated based on evidence of job creation, non-federal funding commitments, economic need of the service area, consistency with local economic development priorities, and grantee experience.