Together, America Prospers

Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased 

Product Manufacturing Assistance Program

What does this 

program do?

The Biorefinery, Renewable 

Chemical, and Biobased Product 

Manufacturing Assistance 

Program – also known as the 

“Section 9003 Program” – provides 

loan guarantees to eligible 

applicants to develop advanced 

biofuels, renewable chemicals, 

and biobased-products 

manufacturing facilities to deliver 

new and innovative technologies.

Overview

This program provides loan 

guarantees up to $250 million to 

develop, build, or retrofit facilities 

to support new and emerging 

technologies, and produce advanced 

biofuels, renewable chemicals, and 

biobased products (definitions are 

available under Subpart C, Section 

4279.202 at this Federal Register link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xJxNK).

• The project must be located in a

U.S. state or territory.

• The maximum federal participation

(all federal loans or grants) is 80

percent of all eligible project costs.

• The borrower and other involved

principals must make a significant

cash equity contribution investment.

Who can apply?

Eligible borrowers include individuals, 

corporations, and cooperatives with 

eligible lenders. Examples include:

• Federal or state-chartered banks

• Federally-recognized Tribes

• Farm credit institutions with direct

lending authority

• Credit Unions examined or

supervised by a state agency or the

National Credit Union Administration

(information available at this link:

https://www.ncua.gov/)

• The National Rural Utilities

Cooperative Finance Corporation

Lender Eligibility Requirements

An eligible lender is any federal or 

state-chartered bank, Farm Credit Bank, 

other Farm Credit System institution with 

direct lending authority, or bank that 

serves cooperatives. The lender must 

demonstrate it meets Federal Deposit 

Insurance Corporation (FDIC) definition 

of “well capitalized” (available at this 

link: https://go.usa.gov/xJxPG) at the 

time of application and issuance of the 

Loan Note Guarantee. 

What governs this program?

Code of Federal Regulation 

7 CFR 4279, Subpart C (available 

at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJxpf), 

7 CFR 4287, Subpart D (available at 

this link: https://go.usa.gov/xJxpH), 

and the Agricultural Act of 2014 

(Public Law 113-79, available at this 

link: https://go.usa.gov/xJxpu - PDF).

The program is authorized under 

7 U.S.C. 8103 (available at this link: 

https://go.usa.gov/xJxd3). 

Where can I find the application 

guide and other information?

Visit the Biorefinery, Renewable 

Chemical, and Biobased Product 

Manufacturing Assistance Program 

webpage at https://go.usa.gov/xJxdr. 

Who can answer questions?

Email your questions to 

EnergyPrograms@rd.usda.gov. 

Be sure to mention the Section 9003 

program in your subject line.

NOTE: Because information is subject to change, always consult official program 

instructions or contact your local Rural Development office for help. A list is available 

at this link: https://go.usa.gov/xzSKb. You will find additional resources, forms, and 

program information at https://rd.usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, 

employer, and lender.

Last Updated June 2022