Opportunity Information: Apply for RD RBS 21 01 RMAP
The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service. Its central goal is to strengthen the development and long-term viability of rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises, using the definitions laid out in federal regulation at 7 CFR 4280.302 (available through the eCFR at https://www.ecfr.gov). In practical terms, the program is designed to expand small-scale business creation and stability in rural communities by improving access to hands-on business support and training.
RMAP works by providing direct loans and grants to eligible Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs). These MDOs function as local or regional support entities that serve rural entrepreneurs and very small businesses. Under this opportunity, grant funds are intended to be used by the MDO to deliver technical assistance and entrepreneurship training to rural individuals and businesses. That support often includes things like business planning guidance, financial management and bookkeeping assistance, marketing and customer development coaching, help understanding lending and credit readiness, operational troubleshooting, and other practical skills that help very small enterprises start up, formalize, grow, and remain sustainable over time.
Eligible applicants for this funding include a range of mission-driven and educational entities that are positioned to deliver business development services in rural areas. Specifically, eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories). These eligibility categories reflect the program emphasis on capable organizations that can provide structured training, individualized advising, and ongoing support to rural microbusiness owners.
The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA number 10.870 and is associated with multiple funding activity areas, including agriculture, business and commerce, community development, employment and job training, energy, environment, food and nutrition, regional development, and Opportunity Zone benefits. This broad set of activity categories reflects the reality that rural microenterprises often span many sectors, from small-scale food and farm-related businesses to local service providers, trades, home-based enterprises, and community-oriented startups.
From a funding standpoint, the award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $100,000, with an estimated 15 awards expected. The funding opportunity is identified as RD RBS 21 01 RMAP, with a creation date of August 10, 2021, and an original closing date of June 30, 2022. Overall, RMAP is structured to build local capacity through MDOs so that rural entrepreneurs can access the practical knowledge and support systems that are often harder to find outside larger metropolitan areas, ultimately helping rural communities develop stronger, more resilient small-business ecosystems.Apply for RD RBS 21 01 RMAP
- The Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service in the agriculture, business and commerce, community development, employment, labor and training, energy, environment, food and nutrition, opportunity zone benefits, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.870.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 10, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) FAQs
What is the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)?
The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Utilities Service. It is designed to strengthen the development and long-term viability of rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises.
What is the main goal of RMAP?
The central goal of RMAP is to strengthen the development and long-term viability of rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises, using the definitions established in federal regulation at 7 CFR 4280.302 (available through the eCFR at https://www.ecfr.gov).
How does RMAP work in practice?
RMAP provides direct loans and grants to eligible Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs). Those MDOs then use grant funds to deliver technical assistance and entrepreneurship training to rural individuals and very small businesses.
Who actually receives the grant funding under this opportunity?
Grant funds are awarded to eligible Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs), not directly to individual entrepreneurs or microbusinesses. The MDO uses the funding to provide training and technical assistance to rural entrepreneurs and microenterprises.
What is a Microenterprise Development Organization (MDO) in the context of RMAP?
An MDO is a local or regional support entity that serves rural entrepreneurs and very small businesses by providing structured business development services such as training and one-on-one technical assistance.
What types of support can an MDO provide using RMAP grant funds?
RMAP grant funds are intended for technical assistance and entrepreneurship training. Examples of support described for this opportunity include business planning guidance, financial management and bookkeeping assistance, marketing and customer development coaching, help understanding lending and credit readiness, operational troubleshooting, and other practical skills that help microenterprises start up, formalize, grow, and remain sustainable.
Who is eligible to apply for this RMAP funding opportunity?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories).
Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) are also eligible.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The opportunity states that nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status may be eligible (excluding institutions of higher education within those nonprofit categories).
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA number 10.870.
What funding activity areas are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with multiple funding activity areas, including agriculture, business and commerce, community development, employment and job training, energy, environment, food and nutrition, regional development, and Opportunity Zone benefits.
What is the maximum award amount for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $100,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity estimates that about 15 awards are expected.
What is the funding opportunity identifier?
The funding opportunity is identified as RD RBS 21 01 RMAP.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The creation date listed for the opportunity is August 10, 2021.
What was the original closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is June 30, 2022.
What kinds of businesses does RMAP aim to support?
The program focuses on rural microentrepreneurs and microenterprises (as defined in 7 CFR 4280.302). It reflects the reality that rural microenterprises can span many sectors, including small-scale food and farm-related businesses, local service providers, trades, home-based enterprises, and community-oriented startups.
Why does RMAP focus on MDOs instead of funding entrepreneurs directly?
RMAP is structured to build local capacity through MDOs so rural entrepreneurs can access practical knowledge and support systems that can be harder to find outside larger metropolitan areas, helping rural communities develop stronger small-business ecosystems.
Where can the federal definitions for microentrepreneurs and microenterprises be found?
The opportunity points to federal regulation at 7 CFR 4280.302, which can be accessed through the eCFR at https://www.ecfr.gov.
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