Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) | RD RBS 21 01 RMAP

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.

• 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.

Apply for RD RBS 21 01 RMAP

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